3 Options for Replacing Missing Teeth

Feeling confident and secure in your appearance is one of the keys to happiness, but it can be difficult to have that confidence when you're missing teeth. Despite the fact that more than 100 million adults in the United States are missing at least one tooth, there is still a social stigma associated with tooth loss. Furthermore, missing teeth can affect your speech, your ability to eat comfortably, and even the position and overall health of your remaining teeth and gums. Fortunately, there are many tooth replacement options available. The one that's right for you will depend on many factors, including how many teeth you need to replace, how much money you are willing to invest in your smile, your current level of oral health, and more. It's important to discuss these options with your cosmetic dentist in order to make the best choice possible.

Partial Dentures

Whereas full dentures provide a complete set of artificial teeth for patients who have experienced total tooth loss, partial dentures offer a solution for those missing some, but not all, of their natural teeth. Partial dentures are usually composed of plastic teeth and gums attached to a metal frame, and they attach to nearby natural teeth using either clasps or crowns. Unlike some other types of tooth replacement methods, partial dentures are removable. This is one of the most affordable options for replacing teeth, but there are several notable drawbacks. Partial dentures may make it difficult to chew certain foods, they can affect speech and pronunciation, and special steps must be taken to clean them properly. In addition, they can appear fake or artificial, and many patients find them uncomfortable, at least initially.

Dental Implants

A more modern option for tooth replacement is the dental implant. Unlike dentures, dental implants are permanent and non-removable, and they can be used to replace one tooth, multiple teeth, or all of your natural teeth, depending on your specific needs. Dental implants consist of an artificial titanium tooth root that is implanted into the jawbone, where it serves as an anchor for realistic-looking artificial teeth that are specially made to match the shape and color of the patient's natural teeth. While these implants are long-lasting, comfortable, easy to clean and virtually indistinguishable from natural teeth, they can also be expensive, particularly for patients who require full arch replacement. The patient must also have sufficient bone height, although procedures like bone grafting and sinus augmentation can both be implemented in order to prepare the mouth for the implant.

Bridges

Finally, bridges are a permanent way to replace one tooth or even several teeth at once, as long as there are remaining natural teeth on either side of the gap. A bridge consists of an artificial tooth or teeth attached to two crowns, which are then affixed to the teeth on either side of the space. Thus, the appliance acts as a “bridge” between the two teeth. Bridges can be somewhat difficult to care for, as the patient will be unable to floss between the artificial teeth and the natural teeth that border them, necessitating the use of a special kind of floss that can reach underneath the bridge.

For more information on partial dentures, dental implants and bridges – or to learn about additional tooth replacement options that may be available to you – consult a cosmetic dentist as soon as possible.