The Options for Replacing Lost Teeth

What are my options? 

The modern world of dentistry is an exciting place, and there are always new and ground-breaking solutions that can make a difference to how you look or feel. There’s absolutely no need to struggle on with an unsightly mouth full of gaps or feel embarrassed any longer.
Any reputable dentist will know all of the options available to you, and will be more than happy to explain each of them in turn, along with their advantages and disadvantages, and suitability for your particular circumstances. Furthermore, the majority recommend one solution as standing head and shoulders above the rest.
Curious to know what this solution might be? Keep reading to find out more…


The Denture

The classical option would be a denture. This is a removable plate made of plastic or metals which holds one or more teeth, and is removable. It can be a cheap, easy to obtain, and a satisfactory temporary help when faced with the challenges of tooth loss, but they do have their flaws. These are as follows:

They can move around in your mouth uncomfortably and you might need to use fixative denture glue to help them stay in place.
Your chewing function is greatly reduced and it can be difficult to cope with certain types of food.
They can trap food particles between your gum and their surface.
Top dentures cover the roof of your mouth which can feel ‘strange’ and affect your taste and speech.
Lower dentures encroach on your tongue space and can cause irritation and mouth ulcers.
The act of removing teeth for cleaning can have a psychological impact.
Bone loss will continue with a loss of facial profile.

Quite simple they really don’t feel like teeth.


The Bridge 

Another solution would be a bridge, which is quite literally a bridge that covers the gap. It works through the use of crowns on either side with a false tooth in the middle. The main benefits are the fact that it can look relatively natural and it will be fixed into placed, but again, the negatives can be significant. They are as follows:


• The adjacent teeth will need to be drilled for the fitting of the crowns, yet they might be healthy.
• Crowning healthy teeth can cause damage to the nerve in the tooth, which can cause sensitive teeth or pain, or require future root canal treatment. 

• Treatment can be destructive and weaken the teeth. As a result, they’re much more likely to require future treatment.

• Dental bridges can be challenging to keep clean. 


The Dental Implant – The Ideal Solution

The most widely recommended and up-to-date solution to your tooth loss is a dental implant. This is an artificial tooth that is placed into your jaw to hold a false tooth or a bridge and is an attractive and effective treatment that is highly rated by leading figures in the field of modern dentistry and patients alike.
The main benefit of a dental implant is that it is completely independent of other teeth. You don’t need to touch any other teeth, and they are fixed into place. They act, function and look just like a natural tooth. It is important to remember that these are prosthetic teeth; a fully functioning, healthy natural tooth will always be better.
Also bear in mind that treatment is slightly more invasive than creating dentures, but this disadvantage is far outweighed by the fact that dental implants are a stable and long-lasting investment into your own dental health and happiness. 

The most effective course of action is to speak to an experienced and qualified implant dentist who can assess your own circumstance and advise you accordingly without obligation to go any further with treatment.