Replace Missing Teeth

Bridges

Conventional

These are very similar to their namesake on our roads. We use two or more good teeth to restore a missing tooth. The teeth on both sides of the missing tooth are “ground” down to pegs and the bridge is made to fit over the pegs and hold a tooth in the missing space.

These bridges are usually made of a metal frame and covered with tooth colored porcelain. Recent advances have allowed dentists (in limited situations) to make bridges with either all ceramic or all resin.

Maryland Bridges

The Maryland Bridge is a conservative alternatives to the conventional bridge. There is less tooth structure removed for these bridges and usually the front part of your teeth is saved.
All Porcelain or All Resin

These two types of bridges are very esthetic. They look great. Since they have no metal substructure or all resin materials, they are often weaker than other bridges. If you want the best esthetics and are willing to be extra careful with your teeth, this style may be for you.

Implants

These wonderful advancements in dentistry allow us to replace missing teeth and restore them undetectably. The new teeth can look so natural, no one will know!
An implant is a metal “screw” that is placed in your bone and mimics the root of your natural tooth. An artificial tooth is placed on top of the implant and viola! New teeth!

If you have multiple missing teeth, implants may work for you too. Even people with dentures can have two implants placed to get a snap fit with their dentures; or they may have numerous implants placed and never wear a denture again!

The new implants have over 30 years of research to back them up. Millions of people now benefit from dental implants. The tales of bad implants are long gone – discover what modern implant dentistry can do for you!

Learn more about dental implants here at the Goldstein Dental Center.

Partial Dentures (Partials)

When you still have some teeth left, or want an inexpensive alternative to a bridge, a partial denture may be perfect. A “partial” will fill any gaps left by missing teeth and it is held in by your existing teeth or special “snap fits” that can be made to give the “partial” more retention.

Please note that implants can be placed in most people and you may never need to wear a partial again.

Full Dentures (Plates)

Dentures are the last treatment alternative to ever consider. Dentures are crude replacements for teeth. They can offer superb esthetics but without either a few key teeth or implants to hold the lower plate in, you will have movement of the denture. This movement usually causes food entrapment, sore spots, and more bone loss.

The upper denture usually has more retention and therefore moves less. It is often much more comfortable than the lower denture.

NOTE: If you have dentures, you may want to consider placement of dental implants. They can either tighten the fit of your denture, or you may be able to throw that denture away!