Missing Teeth and Reduced Quality of Life

Missing teeth often negatively affect a patient’s wellbeing. In addition to feeling self-conscious and embarrassed about your smile, missing teeth may affect your overall health. Three ways missing dentition can impact quality of life include:

1. Misalignment and gaps due to missing teeth can make chewing difficult, preventing patients from eating certain foods. The inability to chew properly also means the stomach must work harder to digest your meals, causing the body to absorb fewer nutrients.

2. Missing teeth cause your remaining teeth to experience more stress and strain, increasing the chances of cracked or chipped teeth. Over time, patients may also experience further tooth loss.

3. Missing teeth can negatively impact your social life. As patients begin to feel more uncomfortable with their appearance, they may avoid social situations and interactions with friends and family. This may lead to patients feeling isolated, and potentially, depressed.

What to Expect from the Implant Dentures Procedure

Dental implants allow your Park Ridge dentists to secure a full or partial set of permanent dentures. Patients no longer need to endure messy adhesives or worry about embarrassing slippage when eating or speaking. Implant dentures can return your smile to full function and appearance. In order to place your implant dentures, your Park Ridge dentist will:

  1. Take impressions and molds of your oral structures will be taken and your jaw will be prepared for the procedure.
  2. Place between two and eight titanium implant posts into the jaw.
  3. Allow enough time for the area to heal and the bone tissue to bond with the posts.
  4. Based on the impressions and molds, a custom-made set of natural looking dentures will be created.
  5. When your dentures are completed, the fit will be tested for accuracy and comfort.
  6. Finally, your dentures will be permanently affixed, restoring your smile.

Schedule an Appointment with Your Park Ridge Dentist

A beautiful, healthy smile is within your reach, with the help of Drs. Thanasi and Maria Loukas at Loukas Dentistry of Park Ridge. To schedule an appointment with your Park Ridge dentist today, contact us at (847) 696-1919. Located in the 60068 zip code area, we proudly serve patients and families from Park Ridge and the surrounding Chicago communities.