Options for Replacing Missing Teeth

Options for Replacing Missing Teeth: Restore Your Smile and Confidence

Missing teeth can impact more than just your appearance—they can affect your ability to chew, speak, and maintain proper oral health. Whether you've lost teeth due to injury, decay, or gum disease, there are several effective options available to restore your smile and functionality.

At Soft Touch Dental in Forest Hills, Queens, Dr. Michael Samandarov offers personalized treatment plans to replace missing teeth with natural-looking, durable solutions. Let’s explore the most common options available today.

1. Dental Implants

Dental implants are the gold standard for replacing missing teeth. A small titanium post is surgically placed into the jawbone to act as a tooth root, and a crown is attached to complete the restoration.

• Looks and feels like a natural tooth
• Prevents bone loss by stimulating the jaw
• Doesn’t rely on neighboring teeth for support
• Long-lasting (can last decades with proper care)

Best for: Patients with healthy jawbone and gums, looking for a permanent solution.

2. Implant-Supported Bridges

When several teeth in a row are missing, an implant-supported bridge can restore the area using fewer implants than individual teeth would require.

• Stable and strong
• Aesthetic appearance
• Preserves bone in the implant area
• More cost-effective than replacing each tooth with a separate implant

Best for: Patients missing multiple adjacent teeth.

3. Dental Bridges

A dental bridge fills the gap left by one or more missing teeth. It uses adjacent healthy teeth as anchors for the false tooth (pontic) in between.

• Restores chewing and speaking ability
• Keeps other teeth from shifting
• Faster than implants

Limitations: Requires shaping of neighboring teeth, and doesn't prevent bone loss in the missing tooth area.

Best for: Patients with strong adjacent teeth and one or more missing teeth in a row.

4. Removable Partial Dentures

Partial dentures are removable appliances that replace a few missing teeth and clip onto surrounding natural teeth.

• Affordable
• Easy to remove and clean
• Non-invasive

Limitations: Can feel bulky, may shift while eating or speaking, and needs to be removed at night.

Best for: Patients missing several teeth in different areas of the mouth.

5. Complete Dentures

Full dentures replace all teeth in the upper or lower jaw. They rest on the gums and are custom-fitted for comfort and function.

• Cost-effective solution for full tooth loss
• Improves appearance and facial structure
• Can be made relatively quickly

Limitations: May require adhesives, can loosen over time, and may not prevent bone loss.

Best for: Patients who have lost all or most of their teeth in one or both arches.

6. All-on-4 Dental Implants

All-on-4 is a modern, full-arch restoration that uses just four implants to support a full set of upper or lower teeth.

• Fixed (non-removable)
• Restores full function and aesthetics
• Can often be completed in one day
• Helps preserve jawbone

Best for: Patients with full tooth loss who want a permanent, implant-supported solution.

Why Replace Missing Teeth?

Ignoring tooth loss can lead to:

• Difficulty chewing and poor nutrition
• Speech issues
• Shifting of adjacent teeth
• Bone loss in the jaw
• Premature aging or facial sagging
• Lowered self-confidence

Why Choose Soft Touch Dental in Forest Hills, Queens?

At Soft Touch Dental, Dr. Michael Samandarov provides personalized care and advanced restorative dentistry to help you regain a healthy, natural-looking smile. We offer:

• Dental implants, bridges, and dentures under one roof
• Custom treatment plans for every budget and need
• Advanced digital imaging for precise results
• Gentle, compassionate care every step of the way

📍 Located at: 65-14 108th St, Forest Hills, NY

📞 Call: (718) 925-3886

🌐 Visit: www.softtouchdentalny.com