4 Options to Replace Missing Teeth

Having a missing teeth is just like assembling a furniture you bought from IKEA. What if when you are almost finished putting the pieces together and you are short of a screw, you would be dumbfounded, right? You would be left wondering when the first part would fall off or which other parts would break because of the missing screw. Well, that’s what it is like to go without replacing a missing tooth. Your teeth begin to move around and the bone begins to break down. It can cause gaps to form, decrease chewing ability, increase gum disease and cause loss of other teeth. Eventually, you run the risk of the whole mouth breaking down.

A missing tooth that is not replaced has the ability to affect your entire smile. Fortunately, with the advancements in technology, there are four options available to replace your missing teeth.

Options Available For Replacing Missing Teeth

• Dental Bridge: Dental bridges are made up of 2 crowns on either side of the missing teeth or tooth and a false tooth (pontic) between them. Bridges are made of porcelain for nice aesthetics and metal for durability. Bridge work has a good success rate and for some people, it might be the most appropriate methodology for replacing missing teeth.

• Partial Denture: A removable partial denture is a replacement tooth that fits on a framework of either gum colored plastic or metal that hooks around the teeth. These are useful as temporary solutions only. This type of removable partial denture has no support from the teeth at all and rests on the gums causing the bone to break down.

• Complete Dentures: These are also called plates or a set of false teeth. This may be the only solution for some people but you should avoid it at all cost if you can. Over time dentures cause jaw bone to break down. The more height and width lost, the more uncomfortable and less secure dentures become.

• Dental implants: Dental implants are the premier method for replacing missing or damaged teeth. Their purpose is to give fixed support using the bone of your jaws to secure replacement teeth which helps maintain the alveolar bone and integrity of the jaw bone. The basic parts consist of a titanium screw that serves as the root for your new teeth and the abutment which is the connector that attaches the prosthetic tooth to the bone.

The best replacement option varies from person to person. Talk to your dentist about replacement options based on the condition of the teeth that are going to be a part of the bridge or how much bone is available for a dental implant and so on. Your dentist will be able to assess the damage and inform you of your best option. If there is a way we can assist you in this process please make an appointment with us today!

Call us now at 03-7728 7996