DENTURES AND BRIDGES

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Dentures (false teeth) are synthetic replacements for missing natural teeth. Some dentures are designed to replace a few missing teeth. Other types of dentures replace all of your teeth, gums, and surrounding tissues.

Tooth decay, gum disease, and facial injuries can lead to tooth loss. Depending on how many teeth are lost, dentures may be necessary.

Candidates for complete dentures include:

• Elderly patients — a “complete edentulous situation” (lack of teeth) is most common in elderly people (65+). This is because tooth loss relates to age, especially geriatric patients (those with diseases and problems due to old age).

• Younger patients — in rare cases, young patients may also be candidates for complete dentures. This is only the case if they lost all or their teeth due to an injury or from severe tooth decay.

 BRIDGES

 Dental bridges literally bridge the gap created by one or more missing teeth. Traditional bridges involve creating a crown for the tooth or implant on either side of the missing tooth, with a false tooth/teeth in between. A cantilever bridge is used when there are teeth on only one side of the open space. Maryland bonded bridges have plastic teeth and gums supported by a metal framework.