Gaps between teeth can be detrimental to your health

We offer several tooth replacement options!

Our priority is to repair and save everybody’s natural teeth. However, sometimes a tooth cannot be saved and needs to be extracted. If you have any missing teeth, replacing them may be more important than you realise.

Missing teeth can not only be unsightly, but they can also result in loss of chewing ability, the collapse of your facial height (which is related to an aged look), and loss of surrounding bone.

General replacement options

Dentures

Dentures are probably the most economical solution for replacing several missing teeth. However, they are removable. This means you will need to take them out and put them back in every day to clean them (and your natural teeth). Dentures can also start moving around inside your mouth when eating, if they are old or ill-fitting.

After a tooth is removed, the bone and gums in the gap will tend to resorb. Resorbing causes a change in the shape of the tissue where the tooth used to be. Because of this natural phenomenon, dentures usually need to be remade or relined every few years to ensure they fit well in your mouth. If you have a bad gag reflex, you may not feel dentures are a suitable treatment option as they may seem rather bulky in the mouth at first. This happens because the dentures rely on the remaining teeth and gums to seat them, and provide support and retention. The fitting process may take multiple appointments as impressions/moulds are taken and your new dentures have to be fabricated. A trial fitting of your denture plate also has to be performed in your mouth to test for fit, functionality, comfort and aesthetics. Finally, your dentures will be processed, completed and fitted. We will provide you with instructions on care and maintenance. Follow-up visits are recommended.

Implants

Implants are the best option for replacing teeth, but also the most costly. This is because they support themselves independently. Implants are comparable to having brand new teeth placed in your mouth. Hence there is no need for any shaving of adjacent teeth or bulky uncomfortable dentures. However, just like your natural teeth, you will need to practice good oral hygiene – this ensures the health of your implant and the surrounding tissue after placement. Prior to placement, there is usually a fair bit of planning involved. Your Leeming dentist will need to determine if there is enough quality and quantity of bone in the area supporting the implant. As part of this assessment, you will be asked to attend an appointment to receive a 3D scan. The 3D scan assists us by providing highly accurate images of your jawbone. These 3D images allow us to check that there is sufficient jawbone width and density for an implant procedure.