Your own natural teeth in a healthy, well maintained condition are the best teeth you can possibly have, nothing compares to them. With good self care and frequent dental checkups you can keep your teeth in the best condition for as long as possible. But when a tooth is lost, it’s best to replace it with a non-removable replacement as promptly as possible. With the replacement of a single tooth, a non-removable bridge is often quite satisfactory. However, when two or three teeth in a row are lost, or several teeth spread out intermittently through the entire jaw, a considerable amount of root support has been lost.
The loss can be compared to losing fence posts in a long fence. The fence is not shorter, but fewer posts comprise it. The fence is not as before. More fence posts must be added to increase overall strength. Similarly, weakened areas in the mouth require the aid of implants to replace missing root structures.
Removable partial dentures are either tooth supported or tooth and gum supported. When entirely tooth supported, the space has been replaced or filled in, but the supporting teeth remain the same. In other words, the load has been increased on the remaining teeth. In the case of a partial denture that is both tooth and gum supported the areas where teeth are missing have been filled in with gum supported dentures. This means that the gum tissue and bone under these dentures will gradually shrink, and the partial denture will have to be remade or relined periodically. If these areas are not relined, a space develops under the denture. It is not bearing its fair share of the chewing load, and the remaining natural teeth are overworked. The teeth are overloaded and under these conditions, the remaining teeth will undergo accelerated bone loss.
Nature has provided tooth supporting bone for the years when teeth are present. When teeth are lost the tooth supporting bone degenerates. Nature takes away what you do not use! The bone under the gums “shrinks” and dentures get loose. Dental implants, when properly placed and maintained, provide excellent bone support so that the bone tends to be preserved since it is still being used.
A patient with all his or her natural teeth in a healthy, well maintained and functionally accurate condition can chew at 100 percent efficiency. With every tooth lost the amount of chewing efficiency decreases depending on whether or not the teeth are replaced and how.
Ultimately, if all teeth are lost, you will have perhaps a 15 to 18 percent chewing efficiency (with good – fitting dentures on adequate bone ridges). With implants and non-removable bridge work you could obtain as high as 95 percent efficiency.
When purchasing a new car it is easy to making the decision because you can see it and actually touch it. But when it comes to investing in your health things get a little complicated. You need to make your decision based on confidence, therefore, it is most important that you select a physician who is not only a qualified and experienced implantologist but one who also has the ability to listen and is willing to discuss the advantages and disadvantages with you in an open and realistic manner.
If you require assistance in planning your visit to Costa Rica, we can help you. We will gladly arrange for your local transportation and stay at a B&B or Hotel in the city or in the mountains. Please feel free e-mail us with any questions you may have about the anticipated treatment.