When people lose a tooth, it can have a big impact on both their ability to function and their aesthetics. Not all missing teeth have to be replaced, however if the missing tooth is having a negative effect on your ability to chew or your happiness with your smile then we can help. We will go through the range of options for replacing your tooth and help you plan the best way forward.
There are several options for replacing missing teeth such as dentures, bridges or dental implants.
Dentures
Dentures are a removeable plate that clips around existing teeth with clasps. They can be a good and relatively affordable way to replace missing teeth, but the need to be removed at night for cleaning. Depending on the shape of your mouth and remaining teeth sometimes dentures can be difficult to keep in comfortably.
Bridges
Bridges involve cutting the teeth either side of the space to allow a fake tooth to be cemented in between. This is a good option in cases where implants aren’t an option. However, there can be a risk to the health of the teeth that we cut down to allow the bridge to seat. You can also still get decay around bridges so your oral care at home will impact how long these last.
Dental Implants
Dental implants can be a great option to replace missing teeth. They involve the root of the tooth being replaced with a titanium screw in the jaw. The bone grows around the screw so that it integrates into the jaw. A crown can then be made to seat into the implant and replace your tooth.
Initially, we will assess your case and sometimes refer you to get a cone beam CT scan which will allow us to determine how much bone there is available for an implant. We then plan the surgical stage to place the implant and any grafting procedures that may need to be performed.
Once the implant is placed, we allow 8-12 weeks of healing before taking impressions for a crown to be made to replace the missing tooth. The whole process usually takes between 3-6 months. The cost varies depending on whether it is a simple implant, or whether more complex procedures such as bone grafting need to be performed.
Dental implants generally look and feel like normal teeth. Although dental implants cannot get decay, keeping the tissues around the implant clean and healthy are vital for their long-term success.
If you want more information about any of these options, then give us a call today or make an appointment to speak to one of our friendly team.