Lost Teeth? How Your Restorative Dentists Can Help

There’s more than just one aspect of professional dentistry. For instance, preventive dentistry focuses on routines and treatments designed to avoid dental diseases from forming. Cosmetic dentistry comprises an array of techniques that can rejuvenate your smile’s appearance when it’s marred by one or more aesthetic blemishes. When your teeth and/or gums are seriously injured or threatened, then the Drs. Loukas can employ their restorative dentistry expertise to help expertly rebuild your smile. At our Park Ridge dentists’ office, Dr. Maria and Dr. Thanasi Loukas are specially-trained in the art of dental restoration, and can even return the natural function and beauty to a smile suffering from tooth loss.

How Many Teeth Have You Lost?

The first step to restoring lost teeth is to gauge which dental restoration is the right choice. Since modern dental prostheses are custom-designed to each patient’s needs, the number of teeth you’ve lost will dictate which replacement teeth are right for you. Depending on your exact needs, Dr. Loukas may recommend a dental implant-supported dental crown, partial denture, or complete denture to restore your smile’s glory.

Dental Crowns Over Dental Bridges

If you lost a tooth quite a while ago, you may have had the tooth replaced with a dental bridge. Consisting of one or several replacement teeth bordered by two dental crowns, a bridge closes the gap left in your smile by one missing tooth, or several lost teeth in a row. The crowns at the end of the dental bridge are attached to the remaining teeth adjacent to the gap, called abutment teeth. In most cases, Dr. Loukas will recommend replacing your lost tooth with a dental crown affixed to a dental implant. The implant is surgically-inserted into the jawbone, which fuses to the implant’s titanium surface, and can support a lifelike dental crown once your jawbone has healed. The realistic replacement tooth eliminates the need to modify healthy teeth to support a dental bridge’s anchoring dental crowns.

Customized Partial & Complete Dentures

If you’ve lost a substantial amount of teeth, then you may benefit more from a partial or complete denture. Complete dentures replace an entire row of lost teeth on the upper and/or lower dental ridges, while partial dentures are recommended for patients who still possess some natural teeth. A partial fits around existing teeth while filling in the empty spaces of your lost ones. Like a dental crown, partial and complete dentures can also be situated on a series of dental implants for improved function, comfort, and stability.

About Dr. Maria and Dr. Thanasi Loukas:

Whether you wish to protect your smile from dental disease and damage, or restore your smile after suffering tooth loss, we can help you regain your oral health and confidence through a new and improved smile. Dr. Maria and Dr. Thanasi Loukas are highly-skilled restorative and cosmetic dentists serving the Park Ridge and surrounding Chicago communities. To schedule an appointment, call Loukas General Dentistry today at (847) 696-1919.