Tooth Replacement Options

Tooth loss is the biggest dental problem that can affect an individual's personality and confidence. Missing teeth especially a front tooth can hamper the appearance of a person and can make the person conscious about his/her smile. Though there can be various reasons for tooth loss like a periodontal disease, an injury, aging, etc. with the advance development in the field of dental science, missing tooth is no longer a cause of embarrassment. The best way to overcome this problem is a tooth replacement. Nowadays there are various single, multiple, front tooth replacement options available that can help to restore the healthy look of your teeth as well as keep your teeth from having any other dental problem due to a missing or broken teeth.

Types of Tooth Replacement Options

The four basic multiple or single tooth replacement options include dental implant, fixed bridge, bonded bridge and removable appliances that can surely fix a missing tooth or teeth.

Dental Implants: Dental implant is one of the most preferred options for replacing a missing tooth. The patient needs to have a strong bone and soft tissue to hold the implant which is made of pure titanium. In dental implant procedure, a screw made of appropriate surface material (which helps it to fix in the bone) is implanted in the jawbone at the location of the missing tooth. After healing which usually takes three months or so, a cap or crown is attached to the screw. If done correctly, i.e. by a professional periodontist and with proper dental care by the patient, the implant can even last a lifetime. Since the implant is attached to the gum tissues and the underlying bone in the mouth, not with the adjacent teeth, there are minimal chances of having other dental problems due to a dental implant.

Fixed Bridges: A fixed bridge is the next choice after dental implant for tooth replacement. It is a permanent restoration technique wherein enamel of the adjacent teeth is drilled to take impressions and to construct a permanent bridge across the location where the tooth is missing. This option is best for patients who don't have enough bone and soft tissue or have loose adjacent teeth as the bridge connects all these teeth together and gives it better strength. One of its major advantages over dental implant is that it is performed faster and doesn't require any surgical procedures.

Bonded Bridges: Also termed as acid etched bridge, it is a temporary tooth restoration method that may last somewhere between one to ten years of time. After taking an impression of the adjacent teeth, the bridge is formed on the lingual or palatal side (the side that touches the palate or tongue) of the teeth. However, the only disadvantage is that after a certain period of time these bonded bridges de-bond and some dental work has to done to replace or re-bond them.

Removable Appliance: Of all other options, a removable appliance is the most economical option and has an advantage of replacing multiple teeth with just one appliance. One of the most basic removable appliances is the budget flipper which is nothing but a piece of plastic, having a false tooth connected to a metal and acrylic removable partial denture. The only drawback of a removable appliance is that it contains clasps which are difficult to hide and at times wearing a removable appliance can be uncomfortable for other teeth.

To sum up, we can say that there are advantages and disadvantages to each of these missing tooth replacement options. Hence, before opting for any of the aforementioned options it is essential that you consult your dentist regarding the quantity of the bone you have, the number of healthy adjacent teeth, your overall medical health, age and financial capabilities, and then decide which tooth replacement option suits you the best.