Missing teeth

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Best Way to Replace Missing Teeth

Dental implants are an excellent long-term fixed choice and are used to restore the aesthetics of a smile and chewing ability.

Due to modern innovations in implant dentistry, we have had much success associated with this type of treatment. It continues to remain a popular choice for patients.

In some cases, especially when teeth have been lost, additional procedures may be required, such as bone grafting or gum grafting.

The gap or space left by a lost tooth should ideally be restored. Using implants will prevent negative consequences of losing teeth, such as bone loss or neighbouring teeth moving and tilting into the left space. See Effects of Missing Teeth.

The need for further retention, support or stability, leads to the desire to seek out a treatment that can restore the dental disability in a way that is the most comfortable, long term and cost-effective.

Bridges (FIXED SOLUTION)

A dental bridge is when two teeth (abutment teeth), either side of the area with the missing teeth, anchor the artificial teeth.

A bridge is a great solution, especially when the abutment teeth also need some coverage protection too. This way, security, support and restoration are offered in the same treatment.

Patients tend to prefer this option when a speedier treatment is required. Bridges form a quick and efficient system of medicine that only takes two weeks to complete.

The treatment is also fixed in the mouth and does not need to be removed. It offers excellent aesthetics since a dental bridge has a porcelain component and can look very realistic.

However, the abutment teeth will need to be prepared and tooth tissue removed to provide the space to place a bridge over them. This level of preparation often hinders the selection of this choice.

Dentures (REMOVABLE SOLUTION)

Removable dentures are when an acrylic or metal acrylic device is made that holds all the artificial teeth on it.

It is a removable choice to restore the gaps left by lost teeth.

Various components of the dentures, such as metal clasps, are used to anchor the denture to the remaining teeth.

When all the teeth are missing, the denture acrylic or metal (usually cobalt-chrome) is spread over a larger surface area of the mouth to gain tissue retention.

The treatment for dentures can take several visits over a few weeks.

This is the option when the rest of the teeth need to remain undisturbed and not directly used for support.

It is an excellent solution in cases with a high point of plaque retention and caries susceptibility since it allows the patient to clean the remaining teeth and gums better.

Many considerations need to be made when looking to restore missing teeth:

• Removable or fixed choice. Here we look at whether a permanently fixed choice would be better than a removable one, especially in the long term.

• Speed of treatment. If a solution to missing teeth is required to be completed over a matter of a couple of weeks, then a bridge may be the best option. A bridge treatment would only take two appointments, usually spread over two weeks. Implant treatment can take a few months.

• Health of surrounding tissues. In some instances, it might be better to opt for a removable device to adequately clean the remaining oral tissues (teeth & gums). This is especially true in cases when there is a higher susceptibility to dental decay.

• Non-invasive surgical option. Dental implants are surgically inserted into the jawbone and are also often associated with additional surgical procedures. Some patients may not prefer a surgical option, or there may be a medical contra-indication to the treatment.

• Coverage and Protection Required. The teeth on either side of the gap are heavily built up and so also require protection. This is achieved by covering the entire tooth in the protective crown part of the bridge. In these cases, a denture would not be a suitable option.
• A number of teeth. If multiple teeth need to be replaced, then the treatment can become more complex and involved. In these cases, the patient may opt for a simpler denture or a larger span of bridge treatment.

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Before and After photos