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Dental Implant Alternatives
For patients who are not sure if they want to proceed with implants, or who may not be good candidates for implants, we do offer several alternatives. Call us to schedule a consultation so we can give you the best options for your specific needs. We can also answer any questions you may have about the different options, cost, healing time, and long-term care.
Bridges
For patients with a single missing tooth, the most common alternative to an implant is a bridge. The process to create the bridge involves placing a crown on each of the adjacent teeth, with a prosthetic piece that spans the full space (the two crowns and the missing tooth in the middle) to give the appearance of three teeth. While less expensive than a single implant, the down side to bridges is that we have to crown the adjacent teeth, which otherwise may not have needed to be altered.
To create the bridge, we will first re-contour the adjacent teeth to prepare them for the crowns. Then, we will take an impression so we can create a model of what the full bridge should look like. We can make a temporary that you can wear until the final bridge is ready to be placed. Once the final bridge has been placed, we will check your bite and make sure you are comfortable with it. With proper care and good oral hygiene, bridges can last for 10-15 years. Like any prosthetic, it will eventually need to be replaced.
Partials
If you have several teeth in the same quadrant that are missing or in poor shape, a partial may be the next best thing to implants. A partial is a smaller version of a denture in that the prosthetic piece serves to take the place of–and look like–the natural teeth. Instead of removing all upper or lower teeth, we can keep any healthy teeth in place, and create the partial to fill in for just the missing teeth.
The partial is removable like a denture, and it must be maintained on a regular basis to keep the material from drying out and warping or becoming brittle. They need to be kept in a cleaning solution overnight and brushed regularly to prevent bacteria from collecting on the surface. If you develop any sore spots, call the office so we can adjust it as needed.
Dentures
In cases where all upper and/or lower teeth are gone, or in need of being pulled, traditional dentures are the best alternative to implant-supported dentures. The actual prosthetics are the same as with the implant-supported versions, they just lack the extra support that comes from the implants. Traditional dentures are still a very common option among patients who either lack the bone to anchor the implants, or who may not be in a position financially to take on that added expense.
What Our Patients Say
Absolutely the *TOP* dentist in the D/FW area! We were referred to Dr. Olson by a friend. His office is a 35 minute drive from our home and absolutely worth it. Our daughter is 4 years old and needs extensive work done on her teeth, that will require IV sedation. We have met with 3 other dentists in the area, and didn’t have a peace about them being the ones to do the work on her. We have been searching for the very best, and thankfully, found Dr. Olson.
Cristina W.
Smiles staff are all very pleasant and professional. I have had many bad experiences with dentist and was afraid to go back. Dr. Tran did 3 fillings on me. I actually fell asleep. She’s soft spoken and very gentle handed. My extraction also went well didn’t fall asleep but didn’t have any pain. Yay They did a follow up call to see if I had any issues. I would recommend any and every one to make Smiles their dentist.
PS: very clean facility too
Alisha C.
Not a fan of the dentist in the slightest but everyone at Denton Smiles is top notch and erased my fear completely. I'm super appreciative and can't recommend enough. Having people poke around in your mouth is a pretty invasive experience, but everyone here does nothing but put your mind at ease. THANK YOU!!!
MavLHP44
Everyone in the office was really kind and you can tell they care about their patients. They took their time, asked questions, and listened to my concerns. There was an issue with my insurance and they gave me great advice as to how to handle it. Also, I received the gentlest but most thorough cleaning. I will definitely be visiting again in 6 months!
