10 Best Options to Fix and Replace Missing Teeth
We strive to have strong healthy teeth and no tooth loss. Good oral health means brushing twice a day and visiting a dental office regularly. Missing teeth can be a difficult problem to fix and cause embarrassment for some.
Luckily, there are many treatment options available under health insurance. These allow people to fix tooth loss, bone loss, or just missing teeth. Whether you have lost a tooth due to a genetic condition or an accident, there are ways to help and come up with a treatment plan.
Here’s the scoop on the 10 best options to fix and replace missing teeth!
1. Dental Implants
A common treatment plan in cosmetic dentistry for fixing or replacing missing teeth behind dental crowns is dental implants. Dental implants are artificial roots and teeth placed in spots where surrounding teeth have fallen out or were pulled out due to extensive damage.
They can be made from composite resin or titanium. They are a substance frequently used in medical devices because it bonds well with bone. It is also unlikely to cause an allergic reaction.
Sometimes people prefer dental implant surgery because they are a great way of avoiding damage to nearby teeth. The good news is, the healing process is not too bad.
2. Teeth-In-A-Day
Sometimes called a “six-month smile”, this treatment is popular because they are like traditional dentures. But, they can be completed in just one visit to the dentist, and patients have a fixed solution for their missing teeth and results within a single day.
The process starts with impressions of the teeth. These are made by a lab creating temporary crowns that look just like your natural teeth.
After about six months, the next step is to get permanent artificial tooth replacements for your missing teeth; it could be for multiple teeth or a single missing tooth. They are ready to take over those ugly but useful fillers you’ve been living with for half a year!
This option may also decrease costs as compared to other treatments because it requires fewer appointments than other options.
3. Dentures
People who have a total loss of their natural teeth or a lost tooth may not be a good candidate for dental implants. In this case, removable dentures or complete dentures are the best choices for replacing missing teeth or tooth decay.
Dentures can be made from metal clasps and acrylic materials. These make it look like real teeth and fit over the patient’s real gum tissue. These prosthetic devices also have different options when it comes to attachments; usually made with metal poles, metal clasps, or glued into place. The advantages and disadvantages of these replacement teeth include:
- Appearance
Denture wearers are a good option. They look like they have all their own teeth. This is because dentures mimic natural tooth shape and color; you can’t even tell which is the fake tooth.
- Speech
People who wear a temporary denture make fewer errors while speaking. This is because there is less strain put on speech muscles when talking.
- Maintenance
Patients must keep up oral hygiene by brushing and flossing twice a day. This cleaning must be done with a soft-bristled brush, according to the American Dental Association. This can be difficult to do for some. It can be most difficult for people who have a history of gum disease, like periodontal disease.
- Not a perfect fit
Removable denture means you have a good chance of them slipping out if not worn correctly or cared for properly. So, they are the best option to relieve the potential embarrassment or damage to the remaining number of teeth.
4. Implant Retained Dentures
Patients with poor dental health overall have different options, even those who have total tooth loss, damage to their jaw bone, or lower jaw. Those who also prefer not to undergo a dental implant surgical procedure or damage adjacent teeth may opt for implant dentures as their replacement option for fixing missing teeth.
These prosthetic tooth replacements closely resemble regular dentures. But they work differently and are made of different materials. Instead of an artificial top that clips into soft tissue areas along the gum line, these prosthetic teeth attach directly to implants that were surgically placed throughout the mouth.
The process starts like other denture treatments! It’s like those in which artificial gums are attached to existing supporting teeth and jaw bone using metal clasps or a metal post.
These later dissolve and do not need to be removed. Once the dentures are properly in place, bone and tissue grow into these clasps, locking dentures in place.
There may still be some problems speaking clearly or chewing with these replacements because of their appearance. If implants were not placed close enough together, there is a risk that the rest of the false teeth could slip out of place. This could happen while talking or chewing on them.
5. Dental Crowns
A crown is a different form of dental restoration. It takes over for damaged teeth to improve their size, shape, strength, or appearance. They make up the bulk of artificial tooth replacement options! This is because they prevent further damage from occurring when missing teeth are left untreated.
The procedure for putting these prosthetic teeth in place has a few steps. It requires filing down the tooth to make room for an impression to be taken. Wax is used to make an impression of the tooth. This is then sent off to a lab where a custom crown will be made.
It will then be bonded directly onto the patient’s natural filling. This will fix and replace any teeth, or parts of the tooth, that have been lost or worn down. It will also fill the side of the gap or the side of the missing tooth.
Here are its advantages! Dental crowns can be made from a variety of materials, including gold and porcelain. So, patients have lots of options when it comes to aesthetic appeal.
They can also help keep teeth from shifting into empty spaces left by missing teeth by acting as anchors. This treatment has been known to last for decades without issues if clean and cared for properly.
But they do have some downsides. Dental crowns are expensive and require a great deal of upkeep. This is due to patients chipping or breaking their replacements, as it is the only thing protecting remaining teeth underneath.
6. Dentures with Braces
Patients who don’t mind going under the knife for oral surgery may want to consider having implants placed. This will secure dentures into place. A dentist can surgically place one or more implants into a patient’s jawbone. That is, as long as enough space is created for this procedure by filing down natural teeth. This is a great way to get a beautiful smile.
Once healed, false teeth can be securely attached to these implants using small surgically placed screws. This treatment option requires several appointments before achieving desired results. This could make it an inconvenient but a great solution to tooth loss.
Another disadvantage is that this false teeth option is one of the most expensive available. It can be too costly for many people who would like these replacements. It also requires several procedures that take time before implants can be placed into patients’ jaws.
But it also gives patients have the opportunity to replace missing teeth (front teeth or back teeth) with a false tooth without sacrificing their natural smile or chewing abilities. New dentures with implants are less likely to slip out of place compared to other types that use clasps. This means there is a lower risk of embarrassing situations during daily life!
Implants also require less maintenance compared to dentures and bridges. They do not need adjustment or care beyond standard brushing and flossing.
7. Dental Bridge
A dental bridge is a type of dental restoration in which two or more teeth on either side of the gap are filed down. A crown is then bonded onto each replacement tooth. Once the technique has been completed, false teeth are secured in place. This can be done using metal clasps that hold them securely above and under the gums.
This treatment option can last for many years until you need implant restorations. But it cannot replace as many missing teeth as other options. It only works with healthy natural teeth on either side of the gap.
Dental bridges (such as a Maryland bridge) help prevent further damage from occurring. This can be done by holding together the jawbone and providing a solid foundation for prosthetic replacements.
When well cared for, a fixed bridge is a more permanent solution that has been known to last for over ten years without issues. They also require less upkeep than implant-supported dentures or a bone graft, because they do not need to be attached directly to patients’ mouths.
But, patients are limited to just three replacements for each treatment, which means it doesn’t provide as many options for replacing missing teeth or closing gaps between them. It also requires more maintenance and upkeep compared to other restoration options to ensure the crowns remain in place.
8. Orthodontics
Some patients are suitable candidates for orthodontic treatments before considering other replacement options. This solution offers a prime opportunity to create the appearance of an ideal smile without having fillings drilled into their teeth.
This treatment can use braces and headgear appliances to make minor adjustments that will help align tooth positioning. So, it will move natural teeth into the spaces left by missing teeth and fix the gaps left by them.
In addition to its long list of aesthetic benefits, orthodontics allows patients with moderate tooth loss to benefit from a perfect bite as well as a brighter smile. Beyond being more affordable than dental implants and bridges, braces are also easier for caregivers to take care of because they have fewer loose components that can slip out of place.
It is also a short-term solution compared to other options available because of cost information. This means it doesn’t require a high level of financial investment or lengthy procedures before the desired results are achieved.
But the success rate associated with this treatment is determined by how well patients follow through on their promised appointments and keep up with oral hygiene practices at home, like not eating certain foods or using floss threaders. If they fail to do their part, timely orthodontic treatment might not be achievable.
Since the face changes shape with age, it causes teeth to shift into different positions. This is more difficult for teenagers who are still growing.
9. Partial Dentures
This type of prosthesis is similar to full dentures. It is the best way to replace missing teeth with false ones that are held in place by clasps. However, they can only replace a few teeth at a time and are good for single tooth loss, instead of replacing the patient’s entire mouth.
Partial dentures also require specialized dental care before they can be placed into patients’ mouths. So, this solution isn’t always one of the best options to fix or replace missing teeth.
Unlike other options, partial dentures are quick and easy for doctors to install once they have been crafted for their patients. They also do not require any special care beyond standard oral hygiene practices, making them an ideal choice for people whose tooth loss has left them struggling to maintain their smiles or chewing abilities.
A disadvantage of a removable partial denture is patients can only install a single partial denture at a time and must wait six months in between each treatment to give their gums and mouth time to adjust. The same level of jaw support that other options offer is also not provided. It is not directly attached to them, which is an underlying cause for patients‘ jaws to sink over time.
10. Get Fake Teeth
There are a few options patients have when it comes to refurbishing dental health. A dental veneer, full denture, and porcelain veneers, all are good for replacing teeth on a suitable candidate with false ones, whether they want to find replacements for one or more teeth.
Even if you want permanent teeth, a single implant, or want to fix the side of a missing tooth. A complete set of dentures is the most common alternative. They are artificial teeth that are not only affordable but easy to attach to the natural tooth root, once they have been crafted in a lab by dental technicians. They also give the natural look and don’t mess with your facial appearance.
These are fast and convenient alternatives for doctors to install once they have been crafted. The benefits of implants are that some come with special attachments that allow them to be adhered directly into patients’ mouths to support teeth or gums. This means it is not only an affordable solution but also the easiest one available. They can also restore oral function by allowing people who cannot chew without them to ease their nutritional demands.
While these alternatives can last for years if cared for properly with regular brushing, and used with a cleaning solution, patients who do not tend to their teeth and gums regularly will end up replacing this dental appliance more often than they would like. It is also easy for dentures to slip out of place when speaking, eating, or laughing, which can cause them to chip or break if handled roughly.
Your Smile is Beautiful, No Matter What
Use these tips to fix missing teeth (or just a front tooth) and improve your dental health! We hope these ways are helpful to you, and that you can begin to use these methods in your daily life.
There are many different ways to fix missing teeth, so don’t let it stop you from whatever you have planned for the day! Life is too short to worry about something so small; be happy and love yourself no matter what. Oh, and be sure to smile while doing it!
That’s the scoop on 10 of the best options to fix and replace missing teeth! Tell us what you think in the comments below. Here are some articles that might interest you:
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