3 Options for Replacing Missing Teeth To Avoid Shifting Teeth

Are you looking into your options for replacing missing teeth? Fortunately, there are various options for replacing missing teeth. This article covers these options, including their benefits and drawbacks. Replacing missing teeth after a tooth extraction is important for bone health since tooth loss results in a loss of bone density. Also, failing to get tooth replacement will cause the teeth to shift, which can cause pain, a crooked smile, and difficulty when eating.

3 Options for replacing missing teeth

The following are options for replacing missing teeth to prevent the other teeth from shifting into the empty spaces:

1. Partially removable dentures

Full dentures are popular, especially among senior citizens, but many people are not familiar with partial dentures, which are another choice for tooth replacement. Removable partial dentures are teeth fitted on a pink foundation that mimics gums and appears natural. They will assist in filling in the gaps in your smile and the space left by the lost tooth, preventing any shifting.

This option will restore normal dental function, and patients will be able to smile confidently with a complete and natural-looking smile. Partial dentures offer a lower-cost alternative for replacing missing teeth, and maintenance is easy. The dentures need to be rinsed once a day and kept clean and dry during sleep.

If additional teeth are required in the future, dentists may add them to the partial dentures, and they can modify them if they become painful or unpleasant. However, partial dentures should not be worn all day and should be removed at night. They also do not appear as natural as other, more permanent options for replacing missing teeth.

2. Dental bridges

A dental bridge is another option to explore, as it uses two healthy teeth on each side of the space left after tooth loss to support the prosthetic tooth. Dental bridges are permanently attached to the teeth and cannot be removed without the assistance of a dentist. However, they are more robust and long-lasting than temporary alternatives. They are also less intrusive than dental implants since they do not need to be surgically implanted.

The disadvantage is that the teeth supporting the bridge on each side must be filed down so that the dentist can place crowns. Food particles may become trapped beneath dental bridges, causing decay and bone loss over time; therefore, patients must be very cautious while cleaning them.

3. Dental implants

Dental implants often cost more than other restoration options, but they are also the most reliable way to replace missing teeth. A dental implant resembles a natural tooth and can often survive a lifetime of use. The process involves placing a dental implant inside the jawbone. The treatment takes multiple dental visits and spans several months because the jawbone needs to fuse with the implant. Depending on how many teeth are missing, the dentist can use implants to support a crown, bridge, or dentures after complete osseointegration (the process of the implant fusing with the jawbone).

With dental implants, there is less risk of bone loss, gum recession, or shifting teeth. The implant restoration functions just like a natural tooth.