Missing Teeth - Lexington, KY
Losing Your Smile?
![Dr. stapleton](https://cms.identitylexington.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/losing_m.jpg)
Get It Back, and Much More
If you’ve lost teeth, or are about to have some extracted, you’re facing many new limitations. You might only be able to eat soft foods because eating anything else causes you discomfort. You might not be able to speak clearly and naturally. You can smile but the idea embarrasses you—especially if the missing teeth are in your smile zone. Your face may even take on a sunken, aged appearance if your tooth loss leads to bone recession.
There are many solutions to recover your smile, including dental bridges and dental implants, which offer the function and aesthetics of real teeth, jaw protection, and unequaled longevity. You may be surprised at how quickly you’re able to eat, speak, laugh, and smile again once your teeth are replaced by our team at iDENTity Dental Studio. If you have failing or missing teeth in Lexington, KY, reach out, we’ll help you find the tooth replacement solution you need for a complete, confident, and healthy smile.
![Dr. stapleton evaluating patient](https://cms.identitylexington.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/missing_p.jpg)
Life with Missing Teeth
- A limited diet
- Speech difficulties
- Decreased self-confidence
- Jawbone loss
- Sunken facial appearance
![](https://cms.identitylexington.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/cropped-ids-logo-.png)
![dental implant patient smiling](https://cms.identitylexington.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/upgrade.jpg)
Why Replace Damaged or Missing Teeth?
If treatment like root canals, gum disease treatment, and restorative dentistry are ineffective, damaged, infected, and failing teeth, should be removed to protect your dental health and even systemic health. Unless they’re wisdom teeth or extra teeth that are causing overcrowding in your mouth, most teeth should be replaced after removal. Apart from the ways tooth loss can decrease your quality of life, it can also trigger a sort of “domino effect” in your health. Without natural tooth roots stimulating healthy bone growth, your bone will begin to deteriorate beneath the empty tooth socket. This will spread and can even lead to additional tooth loss in adjacent teeth. Replacing your tooth before extensive bone loss can occur will help prevent unnecessary additional harm as well as the need for bone grafting procedures. If your bone is stable enough or has received bone reconstructive treatment, you’ll have the option between dental bridges, dentures, and dental implants for your new, complete smile.
Remedies for Missing Teeth
Tooth Replacement Options at a Glance
![partial dentures](https://cms.identitylexington.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/partial.jpg)
Dental Bridges
Fixed
Last 5+ years
Attached to abutment tooth/teeth
Do not prevent jawbone loss
Greater food choices
![complete dentures](https://cms.identitylexington.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/complete.jpg)
Dentures & Partials
Removable
Last 5+ years
May require adhesives
Do not prevent jawbone loss
Limited food choices
![implants supported dentures](https://cms.identitylexington.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/supported.jpg)
Implant Supported Dentures
Removable or fixed
Last 10+ years
Attached by implants
Limit jawbone loss
Greater food choices
![dental implant model](https://cms.identitylexington.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/implants65.jpg)
Dental Implants
Fixed for unmatched stability
Last decades
Attached by implants
Prevent jawbone loss
Unlimited food choices