The goal of modern preventative dentistry is for every person to keep all their teeth for a lifetime. There are many reasons you need to replace your tooth if it has to be removed. Once a tooth has been removed, the bone will start to atrophy, which can make it difficult to replace if you wait too long. If you have multiple missing teeth, your face may appear sunken in and shortened. Once a tooth is missing, the opposing tooth may erupt into that space causing you to lose this tooth as well. In addition, the teeth around the missing tooth will start to shift because there is now space for them to move.

Best options to replace missing teeth:
1. Implants
Implants are by far the best option to replace a missing tooth. A dental implant is essentially a screw which gets placed in the bone. The fact that the replacement tooth is in the bone helps to prevent further bone loss. The crown which is placed on top of the implant will be porcelain so it looks very natural. The only drawback is that placement and restoration of the implant could take up to a year.

2. Dental Bridge
A dental bridge uses neighboring healthy teeth to attach the missing tooth. Bridges are also very natural looking because they can now be made of all porcelain materials. A dental bridge also take less time to complete compared to dental implants. The draw back to a bridge is that we have to sometimes cut down perfectly healthy teeth to anchor the bridge.

3. Partial or Full Dentures
Dentures are removable appliances that can replace missing teeth and help restore your smile. Removable partial dentures usually consist of replacement teeth attached to pink or gum-colored plastic bases or a metal base. The downfall of dentures is that they are not fixed in your mouth therefore; they are not as stable as a bridge or implant. Full dentures consist of a pink plastic base with teeth attached; your ability to chew is greatly reduced with a full denture, especially on the bottom. Another option, if all of your teeth are missing, is an implant retained denture. This type of full denture is much more stable because the denture clicks into the implants.

If you or someone you know has any dental concerns, please contact Fields Family Dental at fieldsfamilydental@gmail.com or 410-672-3501.

Why should I replace my missing teeth?