Do you have a missing tooth or teeth that are affecting your smile? You should address missing teeth as soon as possible to avoid dental problems that affect your oral health. Without treatment, missing teeth can lead to bone loss in your jaw and changes in your bite as adjacent teeth shift.
At Advanced Laser & Cosmetic Dentistry, Dr. Herbert Jun and Dr. Jay Colucci offer several tooth replacement options for missing teeth in our Crystal Lake and Carpentersville, IL, offices. After a comprehensive dental exam, we will recommend the most suitable options for your dental health and cosmetic goals. We will never recommend unnecessary treatments and do our best to offer affordable dental care for all ages.
Consequences of Missing Teeth
When teeth are missing, there’s nothing to stimulate the underlying jaw bone, so it begins to deteriorate. If you don’t seek treatment, it will continue to deteriorate over time, making tooth replacement options more difficult. This can affect your remaining healthy teeth.
Neighboring healthy teeth can become less stable, loose, crooked, or cause problems with jaw alignment. Loose or crooked teeth or a misaligned jaw can increase your risk for gum disease. Crooked teeth are more difficult to clean, and loose teeth may allow bacteria to settle in. These teeth can also become overcrowded as the jawbone continues to deteriorate. They pose a risk of tooth fracture and decay.
Patients with missing teeth are more susceptible to malocclusion, jaw bone resorption, and super eruption of the opposing teeth. Having voids in your mouth will limit the food you can eat and can eventually lead to further dental issues.
Missing teeth can also affect your speech and nutrition. Without treatment, missing teeth increase your risk of developing dental and systemic health concerns, including gum disease, cardiovascular disease, and inflammation.
Treatment Options for Missing Teeth
At Advanced Laser & Cosmetic Dentistry, we offer a full range of restorative services to replace missing teeth. Dr. Herbert Jun has advanced training in restorative dentistry, including a residency at NYU Langone Health’s Advanced Education in General Dentistry program. This training enables him to handle complex cases that many general dentists refer out.
We offer several tooth replacement options to restore your smile and oral health:
1. Dental Implants
Dental implants are the most natural-looking and durable option for replacing missing teeth. A dental implant is a tiny titanium post that is surgically placed into the jawbone, acting as an artificial tooth root. Once the implant fuses with the bone, we attach a custom-made crown on top.
Dental implants offer many benefits:
- They look, feel, and function like natural teeth
- They prevent bone loss and gum recession
- They do not require altering healthy adjacent teeth
- They allow you to eat all your favorite foods
- They can last a lifetime with proper care
Our office uses advanced imaging technology for precise implant planning and placement, ensuring optimal results.
2. Dental Bridges
A dental bridge is a prosthesis that fills the gap left by one or more missing teeth. The surrounding healthy teeth hold it in place. The artificial replacement tooth is called a “pontic,” and the healthy adjacent teeth that support it are called “abutments.”
We offer both traditional bridges (supported by crowns on adjacent teeth) and implant-supported bridges (supported by dental implants). Dr. Jun will help you decide which option is best for your case.
3. Dentures and Partials
Dentures can replace several or all missing teeth in your mouth. Full dentures replace all teeth in the upper or lower jaw, while partial dentures fill in spaces between remaining teeth.
We also offer implant-supported dentures, which provide superior stability and comfort compared to traditional dentures. These dentures snap onto strategically placed implant posts, eliminating worries about slipping or shifting while eating or speaking.
4. Same-Day Crowns
For patients who need a single tooth replacement, we offer same-day crowns using our on-site milling technology. You can receive a custom crown in a single visit, eliminating the need for a temporary crown and a second appointment.
Why Choose Dental Implants?
Whenever possible, Dr. Jun recommends dental implants to replace lost teeth. They are the most reliable treatment option and have a high success rate. They offer many benefits that affect your overall health, oral health, and quality of life.
The benefits of dental implants include:
- Avoids bone loss and gum recession
- Does not require the degradation of healthy teeth
- Improves the appearance of the smile and lower face
- No food restrictions
- No worry of dentures slipping or falling out
- Look exactly like your natural teeth
- Superior durability and longevity
- Improves speech
Missing Teeth FAQs
Do I really need to replace a missing tooth?
Dentists highly recommend replacing missing teeth for many health reasons. For example, missing teeth can shift your bite and cause the surrounding teeth to move, resulting in crookedness and misalignment.
Additionally, the remaining teeth may become more vulnerable and prone to weakened enamel, gum problems, and decay. Furthermore, your jawbone and gums may lose volume and density. Lastly, lost teeth can have a negative aesthetic impact, resulting in a sunken and aged look.
Can missing teeth cause problems?
Missing teeth can cause a variety of health problems. It puts patients at a higher risk for gum disease. Gum disease can lead to a variety of overall health problems, such as heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and Alzheimer’s. If you’re missing teeth, we recommend treatment to prevent future complications.
How do missing teeth cause jawbone loss?
When you lose a tooth, the part of your jawbone that used to hold that tooth no longer gets the pressure and stimulation from chewing. Your bone needs this kind of regular activity to stay strong. Without it, the bone slowly begins to shrink and weaken. Over time, this can change the shape of your jaw and affect your other teeth.
Can losing back teeth change the shape of your face?
Loss of teeth can change the shape of your face. This can result in a change in someone’s overall appearance. It may also cause facial sagging. Even missing a single tooth changes the balance of your jaw and results in an uneven bone structure.
What is the best option for a missing front tooth?
Dental implants are the most common choice for replacing a missing front tooth. They are the strongest, most durable option and can also blend in aesthetically. We can color-match implant restorations to your other teeth.
Schedule Your Tooth Replacement Consultation Today
At Advanced Laser & Cosmetic Dentistry, we will conduct a thorough evaluation to see which treatment best fits you. Whether you need a single-tooth replacement or a full-arch restoration, Dr. Herbert Jun and Dr. Jay Colucci are here to help.
Call our Crystal Lake office at (779) 244-6264 or our Carpentersville office at (224) 701-3052 to schedule your appointment. You can also request an appointment online. We serve patients from Crystal Lake, Carpentersville, and all surrounding communities.