Having gaps in your smile can be embarrassing. But if you replace your missing teeth, you won’t have to hide from photos or cover your mouth when you laugh. There are several different tooth replacement options that can restore your smile and improve your dental health. Let’s take a look at what you can do about missing teeth, and why it’s so important to replace them.
Why Should You Replace Missing Teeth?
Replacing missing teeth can not only restore your confidence, it also helps prevent further tooth loss and other serious dental problems. For instance, missing teeth cause the surrounding teeth to shift around and fill the gap. This causes crooked teeth, which are more difficult to clean, and increases the risk of tooth decay. And because more of the gums are exposed with missing teeth, the risk of gum disease also goes up. These issues can lead to further tooth loss, so it’s important to replace missing teeth as soon as possible.
What to Do About Missing Teeth: Three Tooth Replacement Options
1: Dental Bridges
Also known as fixed bridges, dental bridges are a reliable option if you have one missing tooth or several in a row. These prosthetic devices consist of pontics (artificial teeth) that are anchored to the surrounding teeth with dental crowns. The pontics and crowns are shaped and colored to blend in seamlessly with the rest of your smile.
When you go without teeth for a long time, your face can start to change shape and appear more “sunken” due to bone loss. However, a dental bridge helps support your lips and cheeks and prevents this from happening.
Dental bridges are made of highly durable materials—they’re typically made from porcelain, ceramics, zirconium, or a composite of those materials. With proper care, a dental bridge can last up to 15 years.
2: Full or Partial Dentures
If you’re missing all of your upper or lower teeth, full dentures can replace the entire arch. Not only can you smile proudly with dentures, you can also return to speaking and eating normally again. Like bridges, dentures also help fill out your face and give you a more youthful appearance.
Partial dentures or “partials” replace one or more missing teeth on one arch. Unlike a bridge, partials can replace several missing teeth that are not next to each other. The false teeth that fill the gaps are designed to blend in naturally with your other teeth.
While dentures have a bad reputation for being ugly and painful, modern dentures are actually quite comfortable and aesthetically pleasing. Removable dentures are typically made of acrylic resin and custom-created to fit perfectly in your mouth. As long as you remember to keep your dentures clean and soak them every night, they can last up to 10 years.
3: Dental Implants
Dental implants provide a more permanent solution to missing teeth. They consist of titanium posts that are surgically implanted in the jawbone, serving as sturdy foundations for crowns or implant dentures. Implants help prevent the bone loss that causes a sunken face by stimulating the bone tissue just like the root of a tooth.
With proper care, dental implants can last a lifetime. But while dental implants are the longest-lasting solution to missing teeth, they are also the most expensive. They also require invasive surgery, and bone tissue that is strong enough to support implants. You can find out if you’re a good candidate for implants by scheduling a consultation with an oral surgeon.
Transform Your Smile Today
Dental bridges, dentures, partials, and implants can all restore your smile and prevent further tooth loss. If you are ready to replace your missing teeth, consult Dr. Paul Whitney or Dr. Mikaela Weedman at Country Club Dental. We provide custom bridges, dentures, and partials, and can refer you to a qualified oral surgeon for dental implants. Give us a call at 928-526-4314 today to schedule an appointment.
Images used under creative commons license – commercial use (11/28/2023). Photo by Ravi Patel on Unsplash
