Health & Fitness Tools

How To Replace My Missing Tooth?

29th October, 2010 - Posted by health news - No Comments

Bridges, Implants, and Partials

In the U.S, almost 70% of the population is missing at least one tooth. This requires the majority of the country making an important choice. “How do I fill the empty spot?” There are three options for almost every person: the fixed partial denture (bridge), removable partial denture, and an implant. Let’s look at the advantages of all three.

Bridge (Fixed partial denture)

The bridge is a most popular restoration, which is widely used by many dentists. Bridges are fixed appliances (not removable); they use adjacent teeth that are prepped to support the bridge, to steady the bridge and maintain the space. Bridges are fast and easy to fabricate. A patient can have a permanent bridge fixed in place in a couple of weeks assuming the surrounding teeth and gums are healthy. Clients many times choose a bridge for two reasons: the short amount of time it takes to restore to completion and it cements in place (does not move). Bridges satisfy criteria to replace normal contour, comfort, function esthetics, speech, and health. However, there are certain disadvantages. The adjacent teeth, whether they have had previous fillings, root canals, etc., must be prepped for the bridge. Therefore the dentist must remove all the enamel (healthy or not) to make room for the full coverage bridge. Bridges do not take into account the health and position of the bone in the region of the missing tooth. Without internal stimulation form certain biting forces in the bone when the tooth was removed that bone will resorb away at varying rates. The average lifespan of a bridge is 50% success at 10 years. Client can still get decay under bridge and sometimes need tooth canal therapy. While bridges have been widely accepted by patients and dentists alike, they do have their disadvantages.

Partials (Removable partial dentures)

Other patients choose to stay with an option that is a little more non-invasive. {CertainSome people with single or multiple missing teeth can choose to fill in there spaces with a “partial.” Benefits to the partial include: no numbing/surgery, usually less costly (in the short term), can replace many spaces throughout the arch with one appliance. If all the teeth and gums are in proper condition, the patients have impression taken by their dentist. The impressions are used to make models of the teeth and a removable appliance is constructed that uses the existing teeth to hold it in place. Every day the patient puts in the appliance, and every night he or she removes it. Removable partial dentures often put more pressure on the abutment teeth that hold it in place, and the patient, in turn, may lose more teeth. The portion of the partial that sits on the gums many times causes the bone to resorb away quicker than if the partial was never installed. Patients can have this partial relined to fill in spaces after bone resorption, but once the bone is gone, it’s gone.

Implants

There is only one choice that allows the patients to be restored to the best health and function in all aspects. Implants help support the surrounding dentition, gum tissues, and BONE! An implant to replace a single missing tooth does not require any damage to be done to the adjacent teeth. It as no organic material so there is little risk of getting a cavity on an implant. It is the next best thing to a natural tooth that we have. It does require surgery to place the implant; but this surgery is often much less invasive than taking a tooth out. Success rates of implants have been found greater than 97%. Bone requires a 4%internal strain to maintain itself. Implants can satisfy the need. One problem with an implant is time. A final permanently restored implant can take up to one year to complete. However, there is a temporary appliance the patient can wear while the implant is healing. As long as the patient brushes and flosses well around the implant and visits their local dentist for regularly scheduled hygiene visits there is no reason why a healthy implant couldn’t outlast any other appliance.

Conclusion

Patients have many options when it comes to replacing single missing teeth. Patients should educate themselves on the best methods to restore their mouths to oral health. Ask your local dentist about all risks, options, and complications. Of the three we have resented here, the single dental implant is the best appliance, in most cases, to restore the patient to proper health, function, comfort, esthetics, speech, and contour with respect to teeth, gums, and surrounding bone.

If you are looking for a Dentist in Shreveport LA or a Dentist in Bossier City LA then you need to visit us at http://www.shreveport-bossierdental.com we are the office to look for when you are looking for a Shreveport Dentist