Are you missing one or more teeth? Whether due to an accident, tooth decay, or gum disease, the loss of natural teeth can impact life in many ways. The good news is there are several ways to replace missing teeth, and almost everyone will find at least one option that works for them.
Dentures
Dentures are one of the most popular ways to replace missing teeth. Getting a denture fitted is a simple process that is non-invasive and affordable. It can replace as many missing teeth as you need and usually takes only a few weeks to get a denture.
However, because they're removable, they don't sit firmly in the mouth the way permanent restorations do. So if you're wearing a denture you may find it might slip a little when you cough or laugh. Another issue is that certain foods must be avoided to prevent damage to the denture.
Bridges
A bridge is a good option if you're missing a row of up to three teeth. A bridge is a permanent restoration that's anchored in the mouth with crowns that fit over the teeth next to the gap. This means you can bite and chew most foods and easily take care of the restorations with brushing and flossing as normal.
While a bridge is ideal if you're missing only a few teeth, it can't replace more than three teeth, and they must all be in a row for the bridge to be a good replacement option.
Dental Implants
Dental implants are considered the most desirable restoration option thanks to their natural look and function. With implants, virtually no foods are off-limits. Dental implants are the best way to prevent oral health problems that can result from missing teeth. However, because implants require surgery and are more costly, some people prefer to stick with dentures or a bridge.
What are the Benefits of Tooth Restoration?
Whether you choose dental implants, dentures, or a bridge, tooth replacement has many advantages. For instance:
- If you're missing teeth in the smile zone, restorations can help you feel more confident about your appearance.
- Missing teeth can affect your ability to speak clearly, and restoring those teeth can restore your speech to normal.
- Restoring missing teeth can allow you to expand your diet to include foods you previously had to avoid. If you’ve had to avoid a large number of foods, this may even help you maintain a more nutritious diet.
- When teeth are missing, adjacent teeth can shift into the gap over time. This contributes to poor oral health and can even make it more likely that more teeth will be lost in the future.
- Dental implants stimulate jawbone maintenance and prevent the loss of bone health and density that results from missing teeth. This means that changes in a person’s facial appearance are prevented too.
Talk to Your Dentist About Replacing Missing Teeth
If you're missing one or more teeth, you have a lot to gain by having those teeth restored: a more confident smile, better oral health, and the possibility of eating foods that you couldn’t have with missing teeth. Talk to our dentist about your options.