The most permanent solution for one or more missing teeth is dental implants or implant-supported dentures. Dental implants mimic the structure of natural teeth in a way other prosthetic teeth can't, which helps preserve long-term jawbone health.
Dental Implant
An implant is a great way to replace a missing tooth. This solution feels and acts the most like a natural tooth when chewing, brushing or smiling. The implant replaces the actual root of the missing tooth and heals in the bone for several months.
The most affordable tooth replacement solution is dentures. This is because they take the least amount of time to create. There is no surgery and no dental crowns to place. Instead, an impression is taken of the mouth along with measurements.
A dental implant provides several advantages over other tooth replacement options. In addition to looking and functioning like a natural tooth, a dental implant replaces a single tooth without sacrificing the health of neighboring teeth.
Missing front teeth can be particularly devastating since it is noticeable when smiling, while a lost tooth in the back of the mouth is invisible for the most part.
While some may worry more about a highly visible missing tooth (like a front tooth), the serious consequences of a missing tooth — including an increased risk of decay, a negative impact on eating and speaking, and possible bone loss — will impact an individual no matter where the missing tooth is.
Should You Bother Replacing Missing Teeth? Losing a tooth often causes numerous oral health problems like infection, decay and even further tooth loss. The remaining teeth can shift and become wobbly due to possible damage to the bone's vital structure.
It's important to replace missing front teeth as soon as possible because it can lead to more problems such as speaking, eating, and even smiling. Plus, replacing missing teeth can help prevent additional tooth loss and improve oral health.
An implant can be placed right after an extraction if you have healthy gums and sufficient jawbone density. Once the tooth has been removed, your dentist can immediately insert the titanium post into your jaw. Then, it gradually fuses with the bone to provide a reliable foundation for a custom dental crown.
Dental crowns, sometimes called dental caps, serve many purposes in dentistry. They can enhance the look of a misshapen tooth, protect a tooth after a root canal, or strengthen a tooth with a large filling. Dental crowns can even replace a missing tooth.
It would be best to replace missing teeth as soon as possible to prevent tooth shifting. However, if you have a tooth extracted, it is advised to wait four to six months to have the tooth replaced. All in all, this interval gives your gums time to heal before performing another operation.
The most common missing teeth are wisdom teeth, upper lateral incisors, and second premolars/bicuspids.
Even more, 92 percent, say an undesirable mouth-related trait, such as bad breath or missing or crooked teeth, is a turn-off in a potential partner. Not only are people turning down dates because of an unpleasing smile, those with unsightly teeth often choose to stay out of the dating game altogether.
A single missing tooth can contribute to many other problems with your oral health including a misaligned bite that can lead to temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ Disorder), headaches, and even migraines.
While they're primarily used on molars, dental crowns can be used on your front-facing teeth under certain circumstances. Front tooth crowns may be a little less known, but they're just as effective, and they can work miracles on a smile that's in need of repair.
Number of teeth a dental bridge can replace
A dental bridge can take the place of a single tooth but is commonly used to restore two, three, four, or more teeth. The greater the number of missing teeth, the more crowns needed to support the bridge and the less stable the bridge tends to be.
In most cases, at least two millimeters of tooth structure is required in order to place a crown. Generally, this means that at least one-quarter of the visible portion of the tooth must be present and healthy enough to support a dental crown.
Dental implants
Implants are a fixed alternative to removable dentures. You can use implants to replace just a single tooth or several teeth. To fit an implant, titanium screws are drilled into the jaw bone to support a crown, bridge or denture.
The answer is almost always a resounding yes. Dental implants are designed to look and feel just like your natural teeth. And when compared to other restorative options for missing teeth (i.e., bridges), dental implants are hands-down the most natural-looking option.
With numbed nerves, you can expect not to feel any pain during your dental implant procedure. You may feel pressure at times, but it should not cause you discomfort. For patients who have anxiety with dental procedures, oral sedation is available.
Patients are commonly sedated during dental implant surgery to protect against pain during this invasive procedure. Most patients are put under conscious sedation while local anesthesia is applied to the area of the mouth that is being worked on.
The pain that patients feel when they get dental implant surgery is actually not from the hole made in the bone or the placement of the implant — the pain usually comes from the soft tissue manipulation that occurs during the process.
The pain that could be felt in both procedures depends on how well the procedure goes and the body system of the dental patients. People respond to pain differently. While tooth extraction might be very painful for some people, dental implants might be very easy and pain-free for some.