Replacing a Missing Tooth.

Ways to Replace a Missing Tooth

A healthy mouth can be a great asset. Our teeth have such an important role to play in our lives. They help us chew and digest food, they help us to talk and speak clearly and they also give our face its shape.

A smile also has other day-to-day benefits. It can give us greater confidence, as well as influence our social lives, careers and relationships.Because of this, it only makes sense to give our oral health the best care possible.

It might sound intuitive, but it actually makes sense for us to know the full functionality of the teeth that have been with us for long. Here are some of the reason why teeth are essential to us:

1-Eating : Apparently, teeth are very important when eating. The teeth would grind the food that we eat to make them smaller and easier to swallow. It helps the food to be easily digested before it reaches down to the stomach.
 
2-Makes you look better : Aside from eating, our teeth help us look good. Based on a research, teeth are among our crowning glory.  It’s one of the main features that can make us attractive.
 
3-Self-Confidence : Having a set of healthy teeth can also help you boost your self-confidence. People who often smile are often tagged as sociable and easy to get along with. 
 
4-Speech : Another reason why teeth are important is speech.  Your teeth can help you make a variety of sounds. It helps you hold your tongue and form different tongue positions to pronounce different words.
 
5-Retain Bone : Your teeth can also keep your face in shape. They are connected to your jaw. Once you lose some teeth, your cheeks would sink, and this would make you look old.  It is very important that you see a dentist once in a while to avoid tooth loss which can lead to other diseases caused by decay.
6-Makes your jaw strong : Your teeth will help you keep your jaw bone strong. Your teeth are connected to your gums as the gums are connected to your jawbone. Tooth loss can cause misalignment of the jaw. This can be a really painful experience.

Having a healthy set of teeth is not only for sustenance, but it is also for better social allure and interaction. It is very important that we keep them healthy to avoid serious problems in the future.
Gum disease, tooth decay, injury, or a genetic condition can all be behind a missing tooth. It is unfortunate when someone loses a tooth; however we now have several options to replace it.
Regardless of the underlying cause for missing teeth, if you’re looking to replace a lost tooth or make adjustments to the overall appearance of your mouth, there are different treatments available.

Listed below are five of the most common ways to replace a missing tooth :

1-Dental implants :
Dental implants are an option when you need to replace a single tooth, or when you’re missing several teeth in different areas of your mouth.
This treatment involves surgically mounting a titanium metal post or frame into your upper or lower jaw. A replacement tooth is then mounted to the implant, which allows the tooth to remain in place.
Basically, a dental implant provides a permanent base for a replacement tooth.
Dental implants have been designed to artificially replace a natural tooth root and are inserted into the jawbone to support a restorative or replacement crown, bridge or denture. They can be the best solution for people missing one or more teeth due to injury, periodontal disease or other oral health problem.

Treatment is a long-term solution for tooth loss and it provides the best aesthetic results.
Although treatment is more expensive, it can be more cost effective in the longer term as implant restorations will not need to be replaced as often as a dental bridge. Additionally, an implant preserves the jawbone and the gum tissue, and there is no need for your dentist to grind down healthy teeth.
This solution feels and acts the most like a natural tooth when chewing, brushing or smiling.  The implant replaces the actual root of the missing tooth and heals in the bone for several months.  We then place an abutment, to which a crown will be cemented.  A major advantage is no need to alter any other teeth when placing an implant.  An implant is a great solution for a single missing tooth, and even more implants can replace many missing teeth.  When smiling or talking there is no way to tell the difference between an implant and a natural tooth.
The biggest advantage is that the replacement tooth resembles a natural tooth and can last for decades.
Another advantage of an implant is that nearby teeth aren’t involved (like with a bridge), so the rest of your teeth should remain intact.
This is a surgical procedure, so you’ll need to be in good physical health for surgery and recovery. Plus, the healing process can take several months.
Your dentist won’t attach the replacement tooth until the dental implant completely heals.
Also, dental implants tend to be more expensive than other replacement options for a missing tooth. The procedure may be covered by some insurances, but you might be responsible for deductibles and co-pays.

2-Fixed dental bridge :

If you don’t want a dental implant, see if you’re a candidate for a fixed dental bridge. This tooth replacement option might be effective if you’re missing one or more teeth in the same area.
A fixed bridge essentially bridges a gap caused by a missing tooth using a dental prosthetic or artificial tooth. The prosthetic is attached to adjacent teeth and then bonded in place using dental cement.

A bridge is an option when there are teeth on either side of the missing tooth. A bridge is a fixed solution that stays cemented in the mouth and does not come out.  This method involves cutting down the teeth on either side of the missing tooth to be able to connect them together.  We recommend floss threaders, which slide under the bridge, to keep it clean.  The disadvantages for bridges are cutting down teeth that might be perfectly healthy, and sometimes bridges in the lower jaw do not last as long since the jaw flexes and the unbendable bridge can spring a leak on one side or the other that allows for decay or bacteria to seep in.  Sometimes the teeth next to the gap need a filling or a crown and this method can kill two birds with one stone; filling the gap and fixing the adjacent tooth at the same time.  A bridge can replace one or two missing teeth easily, and sometimes more if there is enough support.
This type of restoration is permanently cemented in place. It can be made from a number of different materials that include gold, precious metal alloys, and porcelain, or a tooth-supported fixed bridge may be made from a combination of these materials.
Bridges are beneficial because they feel and look like natural teeth. You might find they improve the appearance of your natural teeth on either side of the space. They’re also typically cheaper than dental implants.
But the disadvantages of dental bridges can be difficult to clean around the tooth underneath the bridge.
Bridges involve altering existing teeth. Also, a poorly fitted bridge could gradually damage adjoining teeth over time.
In addition, plaque and bacteria could seep underneath the bridge, causing tooth decay or an infection.

3-Removable partial dentures : 

Your dentist may suggest complete dentures if you need to replace all of your teeth. But if you only need to replace some of your teeth, you might be a candidate for a removable partial denture.
This dental appliance consists of replacement teeth attached to a natural-looking pink base.
Your natural teeth stabilize and hold the removable plastic base in place, although some dentures have a clasp that adjoins to natural teeth.

The base is designed to match the color of your gums, and the teeth the color of your natural teeth. These dentures might be an option if you need to replace multiple teeth in one part of your mouth.
Sometimes a partial denture may need metal clasps to help it stay in the mouth.  Unfortunately, these metal clasps may be visible when speaking or smiling.  Another disadvantage of a removable partial denture is that they can move a little when speaking or eating, which can be uncomfortable.  We recommend taking them out at night and soaking them in a cleaning solution.  With a partial denture there is no need to file down any teeth, and this option is the most economical.  A full denture can replace all missing teeth.
Removable partial dentures look and feel natural in the mouth, and they’re also less expensive and easier to repair and replace than other tooth replacement options.
Some people might find partial dentures uncomfortable, at least until they adjust to wearing them.
Dentures must be removed and cleaned daily, and you’ll also remove them before bed. This constant handling can make them more susceptible to damage.

 4-Temporary Denture :
A temporary denture is a short term solution for a missing tooth. We call it a “flipper” because it flips in and out easily.  This is used when the tooth will be restored in the future with a bridge or an implant, but we are waiting for the site to heal.  These are much like a removable partial denture, but usually less sturdy, less bulky, and less expensive.  We do not alter surrounding teeth when we make a flipper.

5-Do Nothing :

There is always the option to do nothing. When a tooth is removed, the bone melts away and the other teeth in the area will shift to fill the gap.  This can sometimes create a difficult place to clean and lead to other problems like bone loss or decay around the existing teeth.