Which Missing Tooth Solution Is Right For You?

It doesn't just look unattractive. The space left behind by a missing tooth can spell trouble for your dental health in general. Fortunately, several options for filling that space are available so read below and choose the one that fits your needs.

Implants, Bridges, Dentures and More

The below solutions can take away that gap and make a dental patient smile again. They vary in terms of invasiveness, cost, and care.

Implants: For long-term wear and a natural look, dental implants are the latest invention in the quest to cover a missing tooth. They are not the least expensive, but they have so many advantages over the other options that many people end up choosing them. Once in place, they look just like your own natural teeth in shape and shade, and they can be cared for as you do your natural teeth. Dental implants are implanted surgically over the course of several appointments using a titanium post topped by a false tooth. Since the post goes directly into your gum and jawbone, the tooth is anchored securely for many years to come.

Bridges: This form of filling in a gap got its name because of the way the false tooth is held up on either side by your natural teeth using wires. Bridges may be better for teeth that are not visible since the wires may show. Cleaning properly is more challenging but very important to ensure that your natural teeth stay healthy. If the teeth on either side are healthy, the bridge can be made to rest on the back of those teeth and be less intrusive. In some cases, however, caps are needed to strengthen the anchoring teeth on each side. Bridges, unlike dentures, stay in place all the time through eating, brushing, and sleeping. Bridges are usually the cost-efficient way of covering a missing tooth.

Dentures: You can have either a full set of dentures, top and bottom, or just what you need. Partial dentures that are removed for cleaning can be used when only a tooth or two needs help. If you intend to get the full set, extractions are a necessary part of the process. Full dentures may need a lot of adjustments and relining from time to time but they are an inexpensive option for those needing to replace several teeth at once.

Implants, Dentures, and Bridges: A somewhat new option is to use a few implants supplemented by a denture. The implant provides stability so that the dentures fit better and need less maintenance. You can also have implants supplemented by a bridge or two. This costs less when several implants would be needed and provide a stable dental solution for many.

Speak to your cosmetic dentist to find out more.