Missing teeth can affect your appearance and make you feel insecure, preventing you from smiling as much as you normally would. Luckily, there are some great cosmetic dentistry procedures that your dentist can recommend to perfect your smile and help you feel confident again. Leslie B. Anthony, D.M.D. in Kalispell, MT, uses state-of-the-art technology to enhance her patients’ smiles, offering everything from teeth whitening to cosmetic and restorative dentistry. 

Cosmetic Dentistry Procedures for Missing Teeth

Dental Implants

Dental implants are permanent replacement teeth that are attached to posts and inserted into the jawbone, acting as anchors. The procedure is a two-step process requiring the jawbone to heal before the replacement tooth, called a dental crown, can be attached. Your dentist will customize a dental crown to blend in with your teeth. Implants can replace individual teeth or several teeth in a row using implant-supported bridges. Because the jawbone grows around the anchor as it heals, implants look and feel just like your teeth. 

Bridgework

Bridges are not as natural and seamless as dental implants but are a non-surgical option for patients with missing teeth. A tooth-supported fixed bridge attaches to the surrounding teeth but is not as sturdy as dental implants. A resin-bonded bridge uses surrounding teeth as anchors but is also not as permanent as dental implants. Partial dentures are removable and don’t require a dental procedure to insert, but they don’t feel as natural and require daily maintenance similar to that of a retainer.

Cosmetic dentistry can do wonders for people who lack confidence due to missing teeth. Talk to your dentist at your next teeth cleaning and ask what kind of dental work is right for you. For a naturally beautiful smile, call Leslie B. Anthony, D.M.D. at (406) 752-8161, or visit the practice’s website.