It is almost Halloween, that time of year when little ghouls and goblins will roam the streets of neighborhoods all throughout the United States in search of the ultimate sugar high! Many of these kids will sport fake teeth that are crooked and missing as a part of their costumers. You know, the kind you had as a kid and put in to scare all of your friends and any nearby adults. Well, crooked and missing teeth are fine and good when they are part of a Halloween costume, however, for many, they are a part of everyday real life. In this case, crooked and missing teeth are not very much fun.
Crooked teeth can negatively affect your appearance, your self-esteem and your confidence. Missing teeth can also negatively affect the way that you feel about yourself and can cause serious dental health problems such as orthodontic relapse (shifting teeth) and periodontal disease. So if you have crooked or missing teeth, what are your options?
It used to be that traditional braces or porcelain veneers were the only available solutions for crooked teeth. For many adults, the time, expense and altered appearance associated with metal braces made them an unattractive solution. Porcelain veneers provided another option but was cost-prohibitive for many. Today, there are a variety of options available for adults who desire straighter teeth but do not want to put up with the time and expense involved with metal braces or porcelain veneers. Six Month Smiles® is a good example. Six Month Smiles® is a short-term orthodontic treatment that enables you to get straighter teeth and a more balanced smile in an average treatment time of just six months utilizing clear braces. If you desire straighter teeth and do not need major bite changes, this may be a good solution for you.
Now let’s talk about the options for replacing missing teeth. If you need to replace a single tooth or a few teeth, your options include a partial denture, a conventional bridge or a dental-implant supported crown or bridge . If you need to replace all of your teeth, your options include traditional full dentures (full plates), dental implant supported dentures or dental implant supported crowns. These options differ greatly in costs as well as advantages to the patient. Your dentist can help you determine which option is best suited for you based on your dental history, your lifestyle and your budget. The important thing is to replace the missing teeth, not which tooth replacement option you choose. Failure to replace a missing tooth or several missing teeth will put your overall dental health at risk and can negatively affect the health of your remaining teeth.
If crooked or missing teeth are a reality for you, talk to your dentist today about how you can improve both the form and function of your smile with restorative and cosmetic dentistry. Happy Halloween.
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