For some people, losing a full arch of teeth often occurs in the later years of their lives. However, it can happen to younger people too and may be caused by accidents or illness, or even the side effects of medication used to treat them. When it does occur though, it can be devastating to our confidence and also our ability to eat and speak effectively.<\/p>\n
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Traditionally, when this has occurred, a full arch of dentures has been used to replace the missing teeth. These can often feel uncomfortable and inconvenient, although modern advances in denture technology mean that great improvements have been made more recently. For example, some dentures such as the ‘Valplast’ type that we offer at Arthur House Dental Care<\/a>, are much better than older style ones, offering more comfort and flexibility.<\/p>\n Even with modern dentures such as Valplast though, there are still unavoidable disadvantages. The first of these is that the lack of teeth in the jawbone will cause the face to change shape, often leading to a ‘sunken’ effect in the cheeks, particularly as the years pass. Dentures also need to be removed and cleaned thoroughly, often involving soaking overnight.<\/p>\n Dental implants are increasingly being used to replace lost teeth, more often than not simply for a single lost tooth. They are also excellent to replace several lost teeth but if a complete arch of teeth has been lost, then, to replace each tooth would be a lengthy and expensive procedure that few would choose.<\/p>\n Dental implants though, can still play a significant role in a procedure used to replace a full arch of missing teeth without the inconvenience of replacing each tooth individually. For this, implants are used as a major component in a procedure sometimes known as an ‘all on 4’ or ‘teeth in a day’. This involves the use of dental implants to hold a fixed bridge in place.<\/p>\nDental Implants<\/h3>\n