What Options Do You Have to Replace Missing Teeth and Restore Your Smile? One or more missing teeth is a problem that many people face. You might lose a tooth due to a bad cavity, an infection, or gum disease. You can also lose a tooth due to injury. Whatever the reason you’re missing a tooth, it can be an inconvenience, to say the least.
It might make chewing more difficult, affect how you talk, and make the position of your other teeth start shifting. On top of this, it can affect your confidence and self-esteem, especially if your missing tooth is clearly visible when you smile. Luckily, there are several solutions when you have a tooth missing.
What Options Do You Have to Replace Missing Teeth and Restore Your Smile?
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Dentures
Dentures can replace one missing tooth or a number of them in a row. They can even be used to replace an entire top or bottom row of teeth or all of the teeth in your mouth.
They have several benefits, including being more affordable than some options, especially if you’re replacing multiple missing teeth.
They are removable and are made to fit you, which should make them comfortable. Dentures need to be cared for to keep them clean and some people can find that they don’t feel as comfortable as they might like. But your dentist can help you with any issues.
Implants
Dental implants are a permanent alternative to dentures and other options. When you have dental implants, a titanium post is placed in your jaw and a false tooth is then attached to it. You can then use it like a normal tooth, taking care of it in the same way, with no need to remove it.
A top dental implant dentist can replace several missing teeth using implants and they don’t have to use an individual post for each tooth. It’s possible to replace multiple teeth with fewer implants. For example, the “all on four” method uses just four posts.
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Bridges
Bridges are an option for replacing a missing tooth by holding a false tooth in place using the real teeth on either side of it. They can be used to replace more than one missing tooth and are permanently fixed into place, unlike dentures.
The teeth on either side of the missing teeth each have a crown. These are attached to the false tooth, which is then held in place by the crowns. The real teeth are prepared for the crowns by removing a small amount of enamel so that the crowns can be fitted.
Crowns
Crowns are designed to repair rather than fully replace a missing tooth. If you have a damaged tooth that needs to be protected, a crown can cover it up and strengthen it. This helps you to save your natural tooth, instead of having to have it removed.
Crowns are also used in dental bridges to hold false teeth in place and might be a solution if you have a missing tooth but also teeth that need to be strengthened and repaired.
If you want to restore your smile and feel more confident again, you have a few different choices to replace missing teeth that could suit you.