Five Options for Replacing Missing Teeth

Losing teeth can lead to feeling self-conscious and uncomfortable, particularly when you’re interacting with others and want to smile or talk. Luckily, there are a range of choices nowadays for replacing lost teeth. Whether you’re considering dental implants or dentures, these alternatives differ in durability and expense, catering to your lifestyle and budget. This article will discuss the top five tooth replacement solutions, helping you figure out the one that suits you best.

Option 1: Removable Dentures and Partial Dentures

Traditional removable dentures offer a reasonably affordable solution for replacing all teeth in either the upper or lower jaw (known as an arch). These dentures are typically crafted from pink acrylic material, with acrylic or porcelain teeth embedded in the pink foundation.

Although dentures serve as tooth replacements, they often shift within the mouth, leading to potential sore spots. Compared to natural teeth, they considerably compromise chewing ability, potentially restricting food choices. Also, patients have reported that they think dentures are cumbersome, unnatural, and affect their speech.

If a few healthy natural teeth are present, a partial denture could be a suitable option. Constructed with a metal framework featuring clasps that attach to existing teeth for stability, these devices anchor in place. While less bulky than acrylic dentures, these restorations can still feel like a lot in the mouth.

Both dentures and partials require nightly removal for cleaning purposes and to allow the gums some uncovered time. On average, replacement or reconstruction of dentures and partial dentures is recommended every 5-8 years.

Option 2: Dental Bridges

When the neighboring teeth are in good condition, a fixed dental bridge can serve as an excellent option compared to removable solutions.

A bridge consists of a sequence of dental crowns linked together and secured in position with cement. While they are pricier than dentures, bridges offer a realistic appearance and sensation akin to natural teeth and boast of longevity.

Regardless, you must be vigilant to prevent decay under the bridge in supporting teeth and to maintain the health of gums and underlying bones.

Also, to create a bridge, the teeth adjacent to an empty space must be readied for crowns. This means removing a substantial portion of tooth material to accommodate the restoration, even if those teeth were initially healthy.

Option 3: Implant-Supported Removable Dentures

An implant-supported denture could be beneficial in certain instances. These include where all teeth within an arch are absent or necessitate replacement, and concerns arise regarding fit or stability with traditional dentures.

An implant-supported denture closely resembles a regular denture but is designed to snap onto unique attachments anchored to the jaws through dental implants. A dental implant comprises a titanium post surgically inserted into the jawbone, which then fuses with the bone. When employed alongside a denture, several implants are inserted and capped with either small metal balls or metal rods. These serve as anchor points for specially designed attachments integrated into the denture’s acrylic.

Though offering greater stability compared to traditional dentures, implant-supported dentures should still be taken out at night for cleaning. This is also to allow the gums to have exposure. Additionally, regular maintenance of the attachment points by a dentist is crucial to ensure their ongoing functionality.

Implant placement involves a significant financial commitment, and the eventual restoration carries nearly all the disadvantages of a regular denture.

Option 4: Dental Implants

Dental implants are the most dependable and lifelike approach to tooth replacement. In cases requiring the replacement of a single tooth, an implant-supported crown can be placed within the gap. This can be done without modifying potentially healthy adjacent teeth.

The cost is approximately equivalent to that of a bridge, with the implant’s cost balanced by the avoidance of preparing extra anchor teeth for crowns.

These implants effectively integrate with the jawbone, rendering the ultimate restoration as secure as natural teeth. They’re applicable for replacing single teeth or even an entire dental arch.

When replacing multiple teeth, dental bridges can be affixed to the implants. Additionally, it’s feasible to completely restore an entire set of teeth using dental implants.

Usually, restoring a single tooth involves multiple surgical procedures, extended healing intervals, and several stages before the final placement. However, some clinics, like Dentakay Dental Clinic, offer same-day dental implants, a method that involves fixing the implants in a single surgical session.

Option 5: All-On-Four

The All-On-Four procedure involves using four dental implants to replace teeth. It employs a full arch sustained by four implants, emerging as a highly effective method to restore an entire smile. It has become the prevailing standard.

Usually, the recovery period can extend up to a year or more, as the implants require time to fuse with the jawbone, ensuring their long-lasting stability.

During the procedure, anesthesia is administered first. Teeth might need extraction to create space for the implants and bridge. Subsequently, titanium screws are placed into the jaw, two at the front and two at the back. Following this, crowns are affixed atop the screws.

What If You Did Nothing?

This presents the least costly alternative. Numerous individuals opt to keep a space when a tooth is extracted, particularly if it’s not visible when they smile. Although this might be feasible for a back tooth, leaving gaps in the middle of an arch could result in significant problems in the long run. You may need multiple procedures to complete your dental concern so be prepared. Check My DDS Supply for further knowledge. It is all worth it once you complete the needed dental process.

Teeth act together for support and function. When a tooth is removed, the teeth around the space now have nothing keeping them upright, so they begin to tip into the open area. Over time, the teeth become slanted. This keeps them from being able to meet the chewing surface of the tooth above or below it and taking them out of function.

Spaces open between the other teeth of the arch as they shift into the open space, creating food traps that cause decay and gum problems. The teeth above or below the space can super erupt or grow long, as they have nothing to meet against to chew. This can lead to jaw joint pain and decreased chewing ability as the teeth no longer fit together as they should.

While inaction might seem hassle-free without financial or orthodontist concerns, it’s essential to prioritize taking action. On that note, this is your invitation to book a consultation with us to discuss your options. We’d be delighted to assist you in making a decision.