HOW WILL I REPLACE A MISSING TOOTH??
If you have lost a tooth then there are
several options available to you:
1.
Do nothing:- If you decide to
have a gap then this is obviously the cheapest and quickest option. But beware
that the teeth around the gap will drift slightly and may tilt also. This can
make teeth harder to clean and make them more susceptible to decay. Also the
tooth that what biting against the lost tooth will have nothing stopping it
from growing into the gap slightly. This can also make cleaning harder.
2.
Denture:- This is only really a
desirable option if funds are limited and/or you are replacing multiple teeth.
Dentures are difficult to get on with initially and make it far harder to keep
you mouth clean.
3.
Bridge:- A bridge utilizes the
teeth either side of a gap. These teeth are prepared in a similar way to
crowns. A lab will then produce a bridge that will be 3 (or more) porcelain
teeth splinted together. This is cemented over the prepared teeth to bridge the
gap. This is a permanent option and if it is planned, prepared and looked after
properly can last a long time. Beware though that it is damaging for the
adjacent teeth as they have to be prepared and trimmed back (irreversible
damage) in order to place the bridgework.
4.
Implant:- Implants are the gold
standard method for tooth replacement. It involves minor oral surgery to place
a titanium implant screw into the bone at the site of missing tooth. This is
then allowed to heal and for the bone to integrate with the implant (usually
3-6 months). After this time an implant crown is placed so that tooth is
replace. Implants have a very high success rate and mean that you do not have
to cut into adjacent teeth, as with bridgework, in order to replace teeth. They
are the most expensive of all options.
The above options are not always available
to everyone. It is best to have a full assessment with your dentist to decide
which option is best for you.
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