Options Available for Tooth Replacement

Tooth loss affects a large number of people and is commonly caused due to injury, aging or periodontal disease. Missing tooth or teeth has an impact on the person’s confidence and his appearance. Apart from these psychological issues, the more tangible harms that tooth loss can lead to is bone loss and drifting of teeth. When a tooth is removed, the bone that supports the teeth shrinks due to phenomenon called ‘resorption’, leading to bone loss, which compromise a person’s ability to get a tooth replacement. Besides bone loss, missing tooth also causes drifting of existing teeth, which leads to inconsistency in height and contours of the gum tissue. This increases the risk of periodontal disease progression. Besides, maintaining oral hygiene also becomes difficult as it becomes challenging to clean plaque and food that gets accumulated in gaps within the teeth. If you are suffering from tooth / teeth loss, it is important you undertake tooth replacement. There are variety of options for you to choose from. Dental Implants

Getting a dental implant requires surgical intervention and to qualify for the same your dentist will make sure that you have sufficient bone mass vital to support the implants. As a first step in the dental implant procedure, a titanium screw is implanted in the jaw bone. After about 3 months, when proper healing would have happened, a crown is attached to the screw. The healing procedure is usually slow in patients who suffer from diabetes or leukemia. Tobacco chewing also adversely impacts healing in patients. When proper care is taken dental implants can last for a life time, however, this is an expensive treatment option. Fixed Bridges

If the bone mass is not enough, patients with tooth loss can also opt for fixed bridges. Unlike implants, fixed bridges do not require a surgical procedure, but would necessitate more than one dental visit. In the first visit, the dentist would prepare the teeth on either side of the gap for fixing the bridge. The dentist will take a sample of your teeth, which will be used to prepare the bridge. In subsequent visits, the dentist would adjust and cement the bridge in the gap. A fixed bridge is cheaper than an implant and looks and feels like natural teeth. Removable Denture

As the name suggests, these are removable and can be used to replace either a single tooth or several teeth or all your teeth in the upper and / or lower jaw. Using some form of clasp, dentures rely on support from other teeth. If it is a fully removable denture intended to replace all teeth in your upper jaw, it remains in position by virtue of suction between the denture and the gum of the palate. Bonded Bridge

A bonded bridge is nothing but a resin or porcelain teeth with resin or metal wings on each side. In some situations, a bonded bridge can also be used to replace the missing teeth. This technique takes much less time and money than a fixed bridge or implant. The procedure is quite easy to perform and can be done without much changes to existing teeth. Consult your dentist to understand the best option for you

Replacing your missing teeth is an important decision and it is best to consult an expert in the subject. Your dentist can guide you to the right specialist in dental care who would best suit your needs.

Acton Miller is an Online Marketing Manager for Solutions Dental Implants - a leading Dental Implants clinic run by Dr Greg Kammeyer in Sun City West, AZ. Acton is extremely passionate about his job.