How to Replace Missing Teeth: Know Your Options
If you’re missing a tooth or several teeth, it can certainly change your smile. Whether you’re missing teeth as a result of an injury, severe tooth decay, gum disease, or a genetic condition, missing teeth can cause several issues.
Living with a missing tooth can change your ability to chew foods, affect the health of your jawbone, cause teeth alignment issues and ultimately affect your overall confidence. Fortunately, there are different treatment options available to replace a missing tooth and restore your smile.
Below is a look at a few ways you can replace missing teeth, as well as the pros and cons of treatment to help you determine which is best for you.
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Dental Implants
Dental implants are an excellent treatment option when you need to replace a single missing tooth or several missing teeth in different areas of your mouth.
The procedure involves surgically placing a titanium post into your upper or lower jaw. After a brief healing period, a replacement tooth similar to a dental crown is then placed on the implant. The dental implant acts as a permanent base for the replacement tooth and is the closest dental restoration to resemble a natural tooth.
Pros of a Dental Implant
The pros of a dental implant include:
- It is the most effective treatment option to replace a missing tooth
- It resembles and functions like a natural tooth
- It is a long-term treatment that can last for decades
- It doesn’t require adjoining teeth involvement like other dental restorations (i.e., a bridge), which will leave the rest of your healthy teeth intact
Cons of a Dental Implant
The cons of a dental implant include:
- Dental implants are usually more costly than other tooth replacement options
- The procedure is surgical, so you’ll need to be in good physical health for surgery and recovery
- The healing process takes several months before the dentist can attach the replacement tooth
Implant-Supported Bridge
If you’re missing several teeth in a row, an implant-supported bridge is an ideal solution. An implant-supported bridge, however, uses only the teeth at opposite ends to place dental implants. The teeth in the middle of the opposite ends are supported without an implant.
Pros of Implant-Supported Bridges
The pros of implant-supported bridges include:
- Excellent restorative choice and more economical for replacing several missing teeth in a row
- Resembles and functions like natural teeth
- An implant-supported bridge is equally as effective as a dental implant
Cons of Implant-Supported Bridges
The cons of implant-supported bridges include:
- It can only be used under certain circumstances when several teeth are missing in a row
- The bridge might need to be replaced in the future
- Requires several dental visits
Fixed Dental Bridge
A fixed bridge utilizes your existing teeth to support the placement of the restoration rather than using dental implants. A fixed bridge consists of crowns that support a floating tooth to fill the missing tooth’s space. The bridge is cemented to the two adjoining teeth, and a fake tooth suspends between the two crowns. The procedure usually takes a few visits to complete.
Pros of a Fixed Dental Bridge
The pros of a fixed dental bridge include:
- Provides a realistic look and feel
- No surgery is required making the process less invasive
- A tooth-supported bridge can be a more economical option compared to dental implants
Cons of a Fixed Dental Bridge
The cons of a fixed dental bridge include:
- The neighboring teeth used to support the bridge will get crowns and will need to be filed down to the appropriate size for the crowns to fit. Ultimately this can lead to increased chances of dental infections down the road
- If the bridge is ill-fitting, it can cause damage to the adjoining teeth over time
- Food debris can easily slide underneath the bridge, which can make it challenging to clean, so you’ll need to regularly clean and floss under the bridge to reduce your risk of infection and bone loss
Removable Partial Denture
Your Brand Dental dentists may recommend a complete denture if you need to replace all of your teeth. But if you only need to replace a few of your teeth, you may be a candidate for a removable partial denture.
A partial denture is a dental appliance that consists of replacement teeth attached to a natural-looking pink base. The base of the parietal denture is meant to match the color of your gums, and the teeth will also match your natural tooth color. Usually metal clasps are used to secure the partial in your mouth.
Partial dentures might be an option if you need to replace multiple teeth in one part of your mouth.
Pros of Partial Dentures
The pros of partial dentures include:
- Extra teeth can be added directly to the partial if any teeth are lost in the future
- Partial dentures are usually less expensive than other tooth-replacement options
- Relatively easy to repair and replace if needed
Cons of Partial Dentures
The cons of partial dentures include:
- Partial dentures can be uncomfortable and may require several appointments to adjust the fit
- The partial must be removed and cleaned daily and should be removed before sleeping
- Partial dentures are more noticeable and don’t appear as natural as other options like dental implants. The reason being the clasps are usually made of metal.
Why Replacing Your Missing Teeth is Important
Our teeth are intended to work together, so if one or more teeth are missing, it can impact your speech, eating habits, and smile. However, over time your missing tooth or teeth can cause other problems as well.
You may avoid chewing on the side of your mouth where the missing tooth is located. This may lead to increased decay on the one side of your mouth you chew on, or affect your jaw and facial muscles.
Furthermore, missing teeth can change the shape of your face and possibly cause your mouth to shift.
You also run the risk of your bite changing to compensate for the lost tooth or teeth. The surrounding teeth may shift and move, given the extra space. Unfortunately, this might cause other issues such as tooth grinding, teeth sensitivity, and difficulty chewing.
Get Started Restoring Your Smile
Whether your tooth was lost because of an injury, gum disease, or tooth decay, there are several excellent treatment options available at Brand Dental to restore your smile. Although each restorative solution has its pros and cons, we’d be happy to help you weigh out your options based on your specific needs and budget.
At Brand Dental, our team of highly trained professionals can help guide you towards the best possible solution to restore your mouth. So, if you’re missing a tooth or teeth and would like more information about your treatment options, call our Kingston, PA office today or schedule an appointment below. We look forward to providing the utmost care for you and your family.
