Lost Tooth? Here's What You Can Do
Posted on: 30 November 2016
Luckily, dentistry is sophisticated enough that tooth loss in not as common in adults, but sometimes it does happen. This is usually due to severe periodontal disease, injury to the mouth, extensive fractures or extreme dental cavities.
If you've lost one or more teeth and you're not sure what to do, read on for some options on how to fill the gaps (or not) with cosmetic dentistry procedures.
Leave it alone
It is not always necessary to replace lost teeth. You should base your decision whether to do so or not on several factors, including the general health of your surrounding teeth, how much the missing tooth or teeth affects your confidence, any financial considerations, etc.
Dental Implants
Dental implants are a great option to replace one or more missing teeth. These implants are surgical components that are inserted into the jawbone, underneath your gums. Replacement teeth are then mounted onto them. Dental implants are usually made from titanium, which is preferred due to its resilience and the fact that it is accepted by the body.
One of the biggest advantages to having implants is that a phenomenon called osteointegration takes place; this means that bone actually attaches itself to the implant, meaning the artificial tooth looks and functions much like a regular tooth and is extremely comfortable.
Dental Bridges
Dental bridges are a great option if your teeth are generally in good shape and are not too weak. Traditional dental bridges work by literally bridging the gap left by your missing tooth and are supported by the teeth on either side of the gap. A false tooth -- usually made of porcelain -- is then placed in the gap. If there is only one adjacent tooth next to the gap, a cantilever bridge is used instead. There is also the option to have removable bridges if you don't fancy the permanency of fixed bridges.
Removal Partial Dentures
If you have lost several teeth, it's worth considering removable partial dentures. Removable partial dentures can, as the name suggests, be easily be removed from the mouth for cleaning. These dentures have clasps that attach to your natural teeth; the replacement teeth on the dentures are matched to the colour of your remaining teeth and gums and tend to look natural, though not as natural as implants. Sometimes crowns on your remaining teeth are required in order to improve the fit of the removable partial dentures.
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