Best option for tooth replacement for missing teeth

29 July 2022

Best option for tooth replacement for missing teeth

Are you struggling with gaps in your dentition created due to lost, broken, or extracted teeth? Well, there can be a plethora of genetic as well as acquired reasons for missing teeth. Irrespective of the cause, missing teeth need to be replaced by some artificial means as early as possible, as they hinder a lot of your day-to-day activities. There are many treatment modalities available, but choosing the most suitable one for you can be a tricky task. You have to consider a lot of points, such as appearance, durability, cost, and lifestyle modifications required for getting a particular type of missing teeth replacement.

To make this job feasible for you, we have gathered the basic details of various missing teeth replacement modalities along with the pros and cons of each type. This comprehensive analysis will help you to get to know the best options for tooth replacement for missing teeth.

Dental Implants:

Dental implants are small titanium prosthetic appliances that are used as a replacement for the root portion of your missing teeth. An implant acts as a support or foundation to which an artificial tooth, known as the pontic, is attached. The implant is embedded inside the jawbone in a drilled cavity and, therefore, is a permanent and long-lasting solution. There are multiple types of dental implants. The artificial tooth is commonly made up of porcelain and is identical to your original teeth. It can also be made up of metals such as gold fused to the porcelain to enhance its strength and durability. This tooth is firmly held in place with the help of an implant. Dental implants are the best option if you have only a single missing tooth or multiple missing teeth at widely separated locations; however, there can be full dental implants as well.  They can replace these gaps most naturally and feasibly. The best dental implants are loaded with interesting benefits, which makes them one of the most popular choices, especially among adolescents and adults.

Advantages:

• Permanent: If you don’t want any hassle around your teeth, removing and wearing devices, then dental implants are the most suitable for you. They offer a permanent solution, and once embedded in your jaw, they will stay there for a long time without any problem.
• Prevent bone loss: When you have a tooth missing, the jawbone in that area begins to undergo bone loss or mineral loss due to the disuse of the area. The dental implant fuses with the jawbone by a process called osseointegration and strengthens it by preventing bone loss.
• Natural-looking: The dental implant is not visible from the outside as it is embedded into the jawbone. The artificial tooth is made as per your natural teeth and will be identical to them. This makes the implant a natural-looking and cosmetically advanced option.
• Good oral hygiene: Easy to clean and maintain.

Disadvantages:

• Not suitable for everyone: If your bone and gum health is not up to the mark, you will be rendered ineligible for dental implants. Also, if you are a chronic smoker, the suitability for dental implants is lower.
• Expensive: It is a costly option when compared to other options. Also, it is a surgical procedure, so extensive requirements have to be met.

Dental Bridges:

A dental bridge is an excellent option if you have multiple teeth missing in tandem. A bridge consists of one or more artificial teeth that are supported by adjacent teeth, known as the abutment teeth. They are then bonded in place with the help of a dental adhesive. The pontic is commonly made up of porcelain, but it can also be made from other precious metals such as gold. The tooth coloured porcelain bridges match your natural teeth and are thus natural and cosmetically acceptable. Bridges for teeth in High Wycombe are available at Conway House Dental Practice. There are four main types of dental bridges:

• Traditional dental bridge: It is held in place with the support of two abutment teeth, cemented to them with a dental crown.
• Cantilever dental bridge: This is similar to a traditional bridge, but is cemented only to one abutment with a crown.
• Maryland dental bridge: This is supported by two abutments, one on each side, but instead of a crown, there is a supporting framework made up of porcelain and metal.
• Implant-supported bridges: Dental implant bridges are the most sturdy as they are supported by dental implants embedded into the jawbone.

Advantages:

• Natural-looking: They enhance the appearance of your teeth and are indistinguishable from them.
• Affordable: These bridges cost less than other options for missing teeth replacement.
• Improves function: They improve the functions of your mouth, which becomes difficult to perform with missing teeth, such as eating and speaking.

Disadvantages:

• Poor oral hygiene: Cleaning beneath the bridges is a challenging task, and often, some bits of food remain trapped around them. They give rise to bad breath and infections.
• Damage to adjacent teeth: As the neighbouring teeth have to provide support to the bridge, there is a risk of injury and damage to them. If the fitting is not adequate, the abutment teeth may get damaged.

Dentures:

Dentures can be partial or complete, depending on how many missing teeth need to be replaced. Full dentures are primarily used in old age when most of the teeth are lost due to ageing. A denture consists of an artificial tooth attached to a base which looks like the gums. It is fitted on the gums with the help of an adhesive, and no support is required from adjacent teeth. Other types of dentures can be removable or fixed based on your requirements. To replace one or two missing teeth, partial dentures are a good option. Some dentures have clamps to hook onto the gums, but primarily, the natural teeth can stabilise them in place.

Advantages:

• Feel like natural teeth: The architecture of dentures is made in a way to make them feel like natural teeth inside your mouth. The base resembling the gum makes them almost identical to your original teeth.
• Easy to use: These are very convenient and easy to use. Older adults highly prefer fixed dentures. They are also easy to repair if you break a tooth out of them accidentally.
• Cheapest: These are very affordable, and you can get good quality dental dentures at inexpensive rates.

Disadvantages:

• Uncomfortable: Some people may find them uncomfortable to wear. However, they soon get adjusted to your mouth, and you do not even feel them wearing them.
• High maintenance required: You have to remove and clean them every day, and then replace them inside your mouth. This process is quite cumbersome for some people.

For expert advice on the best missing tooth replacement, visit a dentist in High Wycombe at Conway House Dental practice. We are a team of family dentists who strive to provide the best dental services to our patients. Our dentists are well-trained in various domains of dentistry. So, if you have any doubts, call us on 01494 526 578, and our staff will be happy to clear them for you.