Teeth Replacement
Teeth implants, dental bridges, and partial dentures are all effective options for replacing single teeth. However, an implant is the closest thing to a natural tooth and is therefore the preferred method of tooth replacement. Its titanium post stimulates the jaw bone like a natural root would, and its crown looks and functions like your natural teeth.
Traditional dental bridges are also non-removable tooth replacements. The teeth adjacent to the missing tooth are trimmed down so that crowns can be affixed to them. These crowns are attached to and support the false teeth needed to bridge the gap. This option presents potential complications, as these can be quite difficult to clean and may lead to an increased risk of decay and disease. Furthermore, traditional dental bridges need to be replaced every seven to ten years on average.
Replacing Multiple Teeth
Partial dentures can also be used to replace a single tooth. A partial denture is a plastic base with a false tooth attached to it. Because it is removable, it requires more maintenance than dental implants, and sometimes poses difficulty when eating or speaking. It too will need to be replaced every five to seven years.
Besides individual teeth implants, multiple missing teeth can be effectively replaced using bridges anchored by implants when two or more consecutive teeth are missing. This method is superior to traditional dental bridges because it does not require any natural teeth to be ground down and because the dental implants keep the jaw bone from receding. Implant supported dentures are the ideal way to replace an entire arch of missing teeth. The patient is still able to remove the denture for cleaning; however, the denture is far more stable and secure when attached to dental implants compared with its traditional counterpart.
