Proudly Serving Franklin Square, New York
Whether missing teeth resulted from an accident or extraction, you want to make sure you have an immediate plan set in motion to restore your smile so you can get back to enjoying life. Tooth loss not only causes gaps in your smile, but it can inhibit your ability to speak and chew effectively. If left unaddressed, any remaining teeth will shift from their natural position and lead to a crooked and misaligned smile. When tooth loss is significant, it can cause your cheeks and lips to sag, and even change the shape of your jawline.
Dr. Novick provides a variety of tooth replacement options at Celebrity Dental to help patients improve their smiles and restore full dental function.
Dental Bridges
If you are missing one to three adjacent teeth in a row, you may be a good candidate for a dental bridge. This restorative device consists of at least one artificial tooth fused together with a dental crown on each side. The dental bridge secures to teeth on either side of the missing tooth to help bridge the gap. It is traditionally made from porcelain in order to provide realistic and sturdy benefits.
To create your dental bridge, Dr. Novick will take impressions of your mouth and send them to a dental lab where technicians will fabricate it based on the impressions taken. They will ensure that the porcelain used matches your natural aesthetics in order to provide seamless results.
Dental bridges are considered fixed and will last you for 10 to 15 years when proper care is given. Because the device isn’t removable, you want to make sure that you brush and floss effectively so that bacteria and food do not get trapped beneath the crowns. Attending routine dental exams and cleanings will allow the doctor to monitor your bridge and teeth for any signs of wear and tear.
Partial Dentures and Complete Dentures
When tooth loss occurs sporadically throughout the mouth but you still have most of your remaining teeth, you may be a good candidate for a partial denture. Partial dentures are traditionally made with an acrylic gum-colored base and natural-looking synthetic teeth fused to a metal frame. The device slips in and out of the mouth much like a conventional retainer but includes tiny metal clips that secure to the back of nearby teeth to help the device stay in place.
For patients missing an entire arch of teeth in the lower and/or upper jaw, Dr. Novick can fit you with customized complete dentures. Also made from natural-looking aesthetics, a full arch denture rests directly atop the gums and is secured with suction and a dental adhesive. Patients who are already missing their teeth are usually fit with conventional dentures. These take four to six weeks to fabricate. In the mean time, Dr. Novick can provide you with temporary dentures.
When tooth extraction needs to be performed in advance, immediate dentures are generally recommended. Impressions are taken in advance so that once the teeth are removed, dentures will be placed immediately so patients can leave the office with their smile intact.
Both partial and complete dentures should be removed nightly for cleaning and to protect your oral health. When not wearing the appliance, be sure to soak it in an approved solution. If the denture is left out overnight, it could permanently damage the device.
Contact Us Today
Dr. Novick can help restore your smile so you can get back to enjoying life as you knew it before missing teeth. Please contact our Franklin Square, NY office today online or by calling (516) 481-1446.