If you’re missing one or more teeth, you’re not alone. In fact, it is estimated that 178 million Americans are missing at least one tooth. Most dentists strongly encourage people who are missing teeth to choose a method to replace them. There are many reasons for this, including the fact that other teeth will shift in place over time to fill in the gap left behind by missing teeth, and that can lead to a myriad of other problems. The good news is that there are several options for replacing missing teeth, including the following.
Dental Implants
An implant consists of a titanium rod that is implanted into the patient’s jawbone. After a few months, when the implant fuses to the bone, an artificial tooth is affixed to the top of the implant. The result is an extremely strong, permanent replacement for a missing tooth. An implant is a popular option because it’s very much like getting a new natural tooth, and it can last for many decades or even for a lifetime. Implants can also be used to anchor either dentures or dental bridges.
Dentures
For patients who are missing several or all of their teeth, dentures can be life-changing. Today’s modern dentures offer many advantages over dentures from years past. They are typically better-fitting and more comfortable for the patient. Partials are available for people missing a few teeth, and complete sets can be made for people who have no natural teeth left.
Dental Bridges
Bridges consist of one or more artificial teeth mounted onto a metal frame. This can be a good option for replacing missing teeth in an area of the mouth where natural teeth are still in place on either side since a bridge attaches to the patient’s adjacent natural teeth to hold it in place. But even if you don’t have the natural teeth to support it, a dental bridge can still be an option thanks to implant-supported bridges. In these circumstances, your dentist or oral surgeon will insert dental implants that serve as supports for the bridge.
Missing teeth can not only ruin your smile; they can make it difficult to chew food and even affect the way you speak. In the long term, living with missing teeth can result in your other teeth shifting in place, which throws off your bite and creates other problems. Fortunately, thanks to modern dental technology, no one has to live with the embarrassment and discomfort of missing teeth. Your dentist can provide you with more information about each of these replacement options and help you decide which is best for you.
