Are There More Options Than One To Replace a Missing Tooth?

When a tooth turns up missing we want to quickly replace it. Missing teeth can make it more difficult to chew food and ofttimes leads to noticeable changes in speech. Due to the fact that our teeth maintain our cheeks and lips in place, tooth loss quickly allows the area around our mouth to sag. In many cases where there is a tooth vacancy, the space allows the neighboring teeth to drift or tilt into the space once occupied by the missing tooth. This change in orientation often affects our ability to bite down evenly when chewing. Although this is more common when baby teeth are missing, we will focus mostly on replacing adult teeth.

There are several options for replacing a missing or lost tooth including removable or non-removable dentures. We will focus on non-removable dentures, mostly. Non-removable or fixed partial dentures are used when filling the space of one or several missing teeth and are fixed in place. There are two common categories for fixed denture replacements: tooth supported and implant supported.

TOOTH SUPPORTED
A fixed partial denture includes imitation or look-a-like teeth that fill the the missing tooth’s place in your mouth. This tooth-supported fixed partial denture option often utilizes extra imitation crowns that are cemented over the top of your natural teeth on one or both sides of the vacancy. To do this option will need to modify your existing tooth by reducing it’s size to be able to cement imitation porcelain teeth as a cover. These are called crowns and they support the imitation tooth that fills the gap. At the time the fixed partial denture is cemented in place it becomes permanent and you will not be able to remove it. This option is most often referred to as a bridge.

IMPLANT SUPPORTED
A dental implant is the second option we will discuss. With this option, a titanium post is surgically inserted into the jawbone. Once it is in place, bone grows peripherally around the implant body to anchor it into place. An implant is much like an imitation tooth root. An implant can be employed to anchor a solitary replacement tooth or a fixed partial denture, in the event you are missing more than one tooth.
Implant surgery often is done in one day; but not uncommonly, it could require multiple visits and surgeries depending on the condition of your mouth and jaw and health. Healthy host bone is imperative to a successful implant surgery and final outcome. If you have periodontal disease, smoke, or are otherwise unhealthy it may not be the right choice for you. A discussion with Dr. Chamberlain can illuminate a lot of the risks involved with implant surgery.

DAILY CARE
We encourage you to take a little extra time with your routine home care after a fixed partial denture is inserted. There will be a gap under the imitation teeth where food and debris usually hide. We suggest utilizing dental floss threaders and water flossers to aid you in cleaning beneath your fixed partial denture or implant. Smaller brushes designed to clean around implants and teeth are available and can easily be purchased over-the-counter. Most staff members at Elevation Family Dental will be able to discuss available cleaning options and how to use them. We suggest you trial a few different styles and brands before finding one that works well for you. We also offer a couple tips to help keep your mouth in tip-top shape:
Brush twice a day with a dental toothpaste that preferably contains fluoride; cleanse in between your teeth on a daily basis; consume a healthy diet: reduce sugary snacks or beverages; choose products that have the ADA Seal of Acceptance to ensure they are safe and effective; visit your dentist on a regular basis to properly follow up with maintenance and preventative measures.

CONCLUSION
When we loose a tooth for whatever reason we quickly want it replaced. A missing tooth affects our speech, chewing, and appearance. You should consider all the options available to replace a missing tooth. Hopefully this has been helpful and answers most of your questions. If not, feel free to contact us at Elevation Family Dental and set up a consult to further discuss your questions or concerns.