The first thing to note is that it is rare for a dentist to suggest you have all your teeth removed. Extraction is generally seen as the last resort when modern treatments have failed. It is also usually done on just one or two teeth at a time.
However, there are exceptions, even a reputable dentist like this Sydney Park dentist will sometimes recommend it as the best course of action to prevent infection from spreading or because your teeth are too far gone.
You should note that tooth loss affects your confidence levels. Equally, you don’t generally have your teeth removed for cosmetic reasons. If they are healthy it is easier and a better option to have veneers fitted. This can give you the Hollywood smile that so many people desire.
But, when you have no other choice but to have all your teeth removed, you will want to know what options are open to you. The bottom line is that you will need to have implants done to replace the teeth. The question then becomes what type of implant suits you best.
Titanium Pegs
When a dentist implants one tooth they will fasten a titanium rod into your jawbone and then leave it for a couple of weeks. This allows your bone to fuse with the titanium. A tooth can then be fitted to the titanium peg, allowing your tooth to be almost as strong as the original.
The same approach can be adapted to a whole mouth implant. However, you have two options depending on your available funds:
1. Individual Implants
This approach is the most expensive and takes time. However, it gives a fantastic finish and should last a lifetime. Your dentist will implant several titanium rods at the same time, giving you anchors for individual teeth. However, it will be too stressful to have all the rods implanted at the same time, meaning that the entire treatment can take several months to complete.
This is generally considered to be the best option.
2. Implant Sections
The alternative is to have pegs put into your mouth every fourth tooth. The dentist will then make up teeth sections that fasten to a peg at each end. The look is similar to the individual implants, they are also very strong, and this process takes less time and costs less money to do.
Of course, while strong they won’t be quite as strong as the individual implants.
Dentures
The alternative is to have more traditional dentures that are glued into place daily and removed at night to be cleaned and sterilized. This is the cheapest approach but it is more difficult on a daily basis as you need to think about what you eat and they must be fastened in properly every morning.
Whatever you decide, it is important to speak to your dentist first and make sure you understand all the options and implications. Ideally, this should be done before any teeth are removed. If you’re pondering on any option, you should consider the dentist in cookeville to get sound advice.