5 Dental Options for Replacing Missing Teeth

by | Nov 25, 2022 | Resources

Many people wonder about their options for replacing missing teeth. Having missing teeth may have various impacts depending on where they are located. A missing front tooth may affect your confidence to smile while multiple missing back teeth may affect how you eat.  So it’s natural to want to know about the options available to replace missing teeth . If you’re feeling self-conscious about your smile or having trouble eating, there are several ways to replace missing teeth. Here are five of them:

1. Implants

Dental implants can be a good long term option, but they can often be the most expensive option. Getting implants takes time, as it involves a surgical procedure to place the implant into your jaw bone, which needs time to integrate (often months) before it can be restored and finished. An implant replaces the root of a tooth and involves inserting a screw into the jawbone. Bone tissues then grow around this, anchoring it into the  bone. Once this happens, a  crown is added on top of the screw, matching in with the surrounding teeth.  Implants are very durable and can last 10-20 years. 

2. Implant Supported  Dentures

For patients missing all or a number of teeth in their top or bottom jaws, dentures can now be fixed onto dental implants. This provides greater stability for the dentures, especially full lower dentures. This option will require multiple implants to fix the dentures too. This treatment option also takes a number of months to complete but can be a great option if you are missing all the teeth in a dental arch.

3. Dentures

Many people opt for dentures over other options for replacing missing teeth as they are cheaper and  a way of replacing multiple missing teeth including multiple gaps in a dental arch. Dentures have been a good option for patients over the years . No surgery is needed to get dentures for your missing teeth. They can be partial dentures (replacing a few teeth) or full dentures(replacing all teeth in a dental arch). They consist of a metal and/or acrylic base with artificial teeth attached, resembling natural teeth. T. 

Dentures can also be adjusted, they can be relined to better fit the gums or a tooth can be added in some cases if another tooth is lost.  Although dentures can bee a popular option, they do come with disadvantages. These include making it difficult to eat hard or sticky foods. They can also come loose and need to be refitted by a dentist. 

4. Dental Bridges

Bridges are another popular option for replacing a missing tooth. A dental bridge is used when someone has one or two teeth missing. They work by adding a “bridge” between the teeth, which is made of 2 crowns on the adjacent teeth has a base to hold the crown in the gap. . These 2 crowns attach to the teeth on either side of the gap and are cemented in place. Once a bridge is in place, it is very durable and can feel like natural teeth. Once you have a bridge, you can brush like normal and use special floos (superfloss) or pixters to keep it clean.

5. Implant Supported Bridge 

An implant supported bridge is another option for replacing missing teeth. Implants can be used to support a bridge, which is a good alternative for people with two or more  missing teeth in one area. They too look natural and can be a good option when the span of missing teeth is too big to be supported by a bridge on the natural adjacent teeth. Instead of placing multiple implants next to each other, implants can be used to support a bridge across the gap. 

Get in Touch

There are many options for replacing missing teeth available to you; each has pros and cons. Our dental professionals can  discuss with you the best options for your mouth and oral health goals. . Why not get in touch with us today and book an appointment?