2 Options for Replacing Lost Teeth
If you have a lost a permanent tooth, your dentist may have already suggested that you have the tooth replaced. A missing tooth leaves additional room along the ridge of the affected palate. This added space can encourage other teeth to shift from their proper positions, leading to dental misalignment. Even if the misalignment is corrected orthodontically, the shifting could recur as long as the gap from the missing tooth remains.
As a result, your dentist may advise you to replace a lost tooth as soon as possible. Here are a few tooth-replacement options that your dentist may recommend.
Dental Implants
A dental implant is a titanium device that is placed inside the bone of the jaw, at the site of the missing tooth. After the implant is positioned in the jawbone, a healing process, called osseointegration, begins. During osseointegration, the jawbone cells grow around the implanted device, allowing it to integrate with the jaw. As a result, the implant is held securely in the jawbone like a natural tooth root.
When it comes to tooth replacement, dental implants are quite versatile. They can be used during the replacement of a single tooth or multiple teeth. When used for a single tooth, a connector is added to the implant, and the device is covered by a dental cap. To replace multiple teeth, the implant acts as a support for a dental bridge or denture.
An implant-based tooth replacement is often preferred above other options because the implant also replaces the root of the missing tooth, while many other devices rest only at the surface of the gums. Also, because the implant resides in the jawbone, it offers stimulation that helps keep the jawbone thick and healthy.
Dental Bridges
A dental bridge is also a popular tooth-replacement option. The bridge includes a prosthetic tooth or multiple false teeth to replace the patient's missing tooth or teeth. To affix the bridge in the mouth, the device includes crowns that fit over the abutment teeth, which are adjacent to the gap left by the lost teeth.
Before the bridge is secured, a bit of enamel is removed from the abutment teeth to ensure that the bridge fits naturally in the oral cavity and does not distort the bite line. Also, the color of the bridge is matched to the color of the patient's other teeth, making it difficult to discern the appliance in the mouth.
If you have one or more missing teeth, schedule a consultation with a dental implant service.