Dentures and Dental Implants in Peterborough: How We Replace Missing Teeth
Missing teeth can be replaced three ways at Brookdale Dental Clinic in Peterborough, and dentures and dental implants are two of them. Each option is built differently and asks something different of the mouth it goes into, so the right choice depends a good deal on how many teeth are gone and the condition of the teeth around the space.
We've cared for patients in Peterborough and the surrounding Kawartha region since 1971. Replacement work happens here alongside the restorative dentistry and routine cleanings our family practice handles for every age, and that includes senior dentistry.
Gaps show when you smile, and they can change how you chew. When chewing gets harder, eating well can get harder too, so replacing a tooth is about function as well as looks.
What Are the Options for Replacing Missing Teeth?
Dental implants, dentures and bridges are the three we offer. How many teeth are missing matters, and so does what's next to the gap, because a bridge leans on the teeth on either side and an implant leans on the bone underneath.
Both show up on X-rays, and at our clinic recommendations follow the exam, with you being a part of the decision.
How Does a Dental Implant Work?
An implant starts below the gumline, where the tooth's root used to be. A titanium root is placed within the jawbone and stays there for four to six months before a crown or bridge is attached to it, and once it's finished, it's fixed in your mouth with nothing to remove.
Those months matter because that's when the bone grows in around the titanium and holds it firmly. It also means an implant needs enough bone to anchor into, which is something a dentist assesses before an implant goes ahead.
What sits on top is either a crown or a bridge, and a bridge lets implants hold up more than one replacement tooth.
How long does getting a dental implant take?
Count on four to six months between the implant going in and the crown or bridge going on, since that's how long the titanium root stays in the bone. If you've got a wedding or a trip on the calendar, that's the stretch to work backward from.
Full or Partial Dentures: Which Do You Need?
A full denture is for an arch, top or bottom, where none of your own teeth are staying. Keep a few, and a partial can be built around them, which leaves the teeth you still have doing their share of the chewing.
Both kinds are removable, and ours are made with current artificial teeth and acrylics that can make a denture look quite natural. Dentures are also quick to fabricate, and they're an economical way to replace missing teeth.
Where a Bridge Fits In
A bridge closes a gap by using the teeth on either side of it as supports, and once it's in, it stays in. To make room, those neighbouring teeth are reduced in size, so a bridge involves the teeth beside the gap as well as the gap itself.
How far a bridge can reach has a limit, and for the long haul it needs a tooth holding up each end. So a bridge tends to suit a shorter gap with a sound tooth on each side.
How Brookdale Dental Clinic Plans Tooth Replacement
With a new patient, we meet and talk about your dental health before any examination begins. A new patient's first appointment is usually a full examination that includes X-rays, and the dentist or hygienist uses an intra-oral camera while going over the findings with you, then makes recommendations and sets out a treatment plan.
We call the approach co-diagnosis. You're involved in your own diagnosis, and wherever possible we put a range of options in front of you, which suits tooth replacement well, since more than one route can work for the same gap.
Our X-rays are digital, which improves their diagnostic value and lowers your exposure. Digital images can also be emailed to a specialist or an insurance company when a quicker response helps.
Dr. Neil Gupta has over 22 years of experience that takes in academic instruction and advanced dental training along with clinical practice. Parking's free, and the building is wheelchair accessible with an elevator.
Does the CDCP or dental insurance cover dentures and implants?
That depends on your coverage, and you're welcome to ask us whether a particular service is covered. We accept the Canadian Dental Care Plan and process insurance claims right away, and if cost is a concern, our office manager can talk through financing and payment options that suit your budget.
Book a Visit About Dentures or Dental Implants in Peterborough
New patients are always welcome at Brookdale Dental Clinic. Call 705-742-4361 or book online, and you'll find us at 304 Bellevue Street, open Monday to Thursday from 8 to 4 and Friday from 8 to noon.
Bring your questions about the four to six months an implant needs, or about how a partial would sit around your own teeth. That first appointment usually ends with recommendations and a treatment plan, worked out with you.
