Affordable Options for Missing Teeth
If you have missing teeth, it can be difficult to choose a method of tooth replacement that is well-suited to your budget, expectations, and needs. Some options are more affordable but offer less stability than others, and other options are more expensive but also more long lasting and durable.
There are some more modern and affordable cosmetic dentistry options that exist which can offer you great results with budget-friendly prices. Stabili-Teeth™, for example, can get you same day results easier than traditional implants.
Building a more complete understanding of all of the options available to you when it comes to replacing your missing teeth can help you make a more informed decision about which method may be the best for your individual needs.
What Methods of Tooth Replacement Exist?
There are several different conventional methods of replacing missing teeth, and understanding how these methods work can help you hone in on a good option that can fit your needs.
Conventional Implants
Conventional dental implants can be used to replace one missing tooth or several missing teeth, or they can also be used as a form of support for dentures or bridges.
Conventional titanium implants are surgically placed into your jawbone such that your bone grows up and around the implant to support it and hold it in place. Once the implants are secure and stable in your mouth, replacement teeth will be attached to them.
That said, conventional implants may not be the best option for all patients, because they generally cost several thousand dollars per implant. In other words, if you have multiple missing teeth, the cost of traditional implants can add up very quickly.
Additionally, the procedure for traditional implant restorations does not give you same-day results, which means there may be a period of time during which you are left without functional teeth while your mouth heals before the final prostheses are installed.
Fixed Bridges
Another conventional method of replacing your missing teeth is a fixed bridge, which essentially works to fill the spaces where you have lost teeth. Fixed bridges typically are bonded, cemented, or otherwise secured in place, and they can only be removed by a dentist. For this reason, it can be somewhat difficult to make sure your fixed bridge stays clean, and it may be hard to sufficiently clean certain parts of a bridge.
The process of getting a fixed bridge placed in your mouth usually involves your adjacent teeth being prepared so that the bridge can be secured to them. The preparation of these abutment teeth on either side of the gap may involve them being ground down, or your dentist may decide to place caps or crowns on them that the bridge can be secured to.
That said, this method of tooth replacement may not be ideal if your remaining teeth are strong and healthy and you do not want to have any damage done to them in order to replace your missing teeth.
Additionally, dental bridges tend to be more affordable than traditional implants, but they are not as secure as implants and they are still more expensive than some other options.
Removable Partial Dentures
Removable partial dentures can be easily taken out of your mouth for routine cleanings, and they are made of an acrylic base with prosthetic teeth attached to it. Generally, the base will match the color of your gums for a more seamless and realistic look, and the plastic base covers a metal framework that attaches to your teeth. In some cases, it may be recommended for you to have caps or crowns placed on your remaining teeth for a more secure way to attach the metal clasps for your dentures.
Removable dentures can take some time to get used to, and they may feel tight or uncomfortable at first. If they get too loose over time, you'll need to take them in for repairs, as loose dentures can cause permanent damage to your jawbone.
Additionally, dentures are a more affordable option than bridges or traditional implants, but they offer less stability and are more prone to breakage and general wear and tear, so you should plan to replace a denture every few years. You cannot chew certain foods like steak, sticky candy, or popcorn while wearing dentures. Dentures also look less like a natural tooth than implants, and they do not protect against further tooth loss, periodontal disease, or gum disease.
Which Methods Offer Better Results?
The aforementioned methods of replacing teeth vary in several ways, one of which is the longevity of these options. Bridges generally last around 5-10 years, because it can be difficult to floss them, which leaves the surfaces around and below the bridge very susceptible to decay.
Even if you're brushing well, bacteria buildup in these areas can be detrimental to your overall oral health, and the process of grinding down the abutment teeth can cause further tooth decay of your existing healthy teeth.
Dentures, on the other hand, may be favorable if you do not want to damage your adjacent teeth the way that a bridge requires, but dentures do not look or feel as comfortable and natural as implants. Additionally, the bone underneath a partial denture is at risk of deteriorating over time because it no longer has tooth root stimulation, and this may change the overall appearance of your face and your smile.
This leaves dental implants as the “best” option, but it is still necessary to consider the fact that implants can be extremely expensive. If you're replacing more than a single tooth or two missing front teeth, dental implants can be prohibitively costly. If you need restoration of your upper or lower jaw to place the implants, the price can rise exponentially.
What Does A Dental Implant Procedure Entail?
If you are considering getting dental implants, it is important to make sure that you understand what this procedure will entail. Dental implants can be a great option regardless of how many teeth you are looking to replace, but it may be important for you to have adequate natural bone to support implants if you do not want to undergo an extra bone grafting procedure that will add to your bill.
Bone grafting procedures are important if your natural jawbone is inadequate because your jawbone is what holds your dental implants in place, and not having enough bone will mean your implants will be less secure. Thus, a bone grafting procedure adds to your existing bone in order to ensure that your implants will be well-supported.
Additionally, conventional dental implants can take months of appointments to be completed, and the recovery process can be a long one because of the invasive surgery that conventional implants call for. However, the end result of dental implants generally resembles natural teeth.
A Modern Solution With Stabili-Teeth™
If bridges and dentures do not sound like the right solution for you, but the surgical procedure and recovery process involved with dental implants, along with the high cost, is discouraging for you, Stabili-Teeth™ has the solution for you.
Stabili-Teeth™ was created as an alternative to the traditional DENTURES AND FIXED DETACHABLES (as in Clear Choice or All-on-Four) because although dentures have their downfalls, they have been proven to work marginally, and while Fixed Detachables work great, the cost remains very high.
Stabili-Teeth™ builds off of the concepts that have been successful and improve upon the aspects of a denture that have failed in the past.
The Stabili-Teeth™ protocol lets you leave the dentist’s office with a full set of stabilized teeth on your day of surgery so that you do not have to worry that you may be left without functional teeth during any point of the process. Then, once your mouth heals from the procedure, your final prostheses will be installed and you will keep the initial provisional teeth as a backup option.
With Stabili-Teeth™, you will also undergo an easier surgery thanks to a unique combination of conventional implants and narrow diameter implants, which means your recovery, too, may not be as difficult as the recovery process from conventional implants. Stabili-Teeth™ comes with a 5-year warranty, and the all-inclusive pricing includes tooth extraction, sedation, and any bone grafting procedures that are necessary. For one arch, the cost-effective, all-inclusive price is just $12,500, or full mouth restoration is $21,500.
If you are ready to bring joy back into your life and enjoy the smile of your dreams, you can schedule your free consultation today by filling out our simple online form that asks about the current condition of your teeth. This form allows us to appropriately assess your needs and individual situation.
Stabili-Teeth™ is a same day, lower cost solution so that you can get your life back.
The Bottom Line
When it comes to replacing your missing teeth, there are plenty of options available that vary in terms of stability and cost. Traditional methods of replacing teeth, such as conventional implants, fixed bridges, and removable partial dentures, have varying rates of success and varying costs, with conventional implants being the most expensive. Bridges and dentures are notorious for their susceptibility to damage and wear and tear, and these options are also not as secure as implants.
If you want the stability and longevity of a tooth implant treatment without the high costs, and you want to be able to enjoy a full set of stabilized teeth on the same day as your surgery, Stabili-Teeth™ is the solution for you.
With the Stabili-Teeth™ protocol, you can leave the office on your day of surgery with a full set of provisional teeth that you get to keep as a backup option even after your final prostheses are installed when your mouth heals. Stabili-Teeth™ gives you the stability you deserve, but with lower costs so that you can bring joy back into your life and enjoy the smile of your dreams.
Sources:
Tooth Replacement Options | ADA Patient Smart
Implants vs. Dentures & Bridges | American Academy of Implant Dentistry