Missing Teeth

One of the biggest dental problems that can happen to someone is the loss of a tooth.  Missing teeth can destroy the look of a person’s teeth and cause people to become self-conscious about their smile.  Although the cosmetic repercussions of missing teeth are large, the dental problems caused by missing teeth are even more problematic.  This is because the space left behind from missing teeth or a missing tooth needs to be filled to avoid teeth drifting.  Teeth drifting refer to teeth migrating to open spaces left behind by missing teeth.  To compensate for a missing tooth, the adjacent teeth will begin to shift and grow in a crooked manner to fill this space.  What results are crooked teeth that are difficult to clean, which can result in further tooth loss.

The cosmetic and dental health ramifications of missing teeth shows that it is imperative that one replaces missing teeth as soon as they can.  There are three basic ways to fix a missing tooth or missing teeth: fixed bridge, removable appliance, and dental implant.  By replacing missing teeth, you will be able to restore the healthy look of your teeth and prevent further dental problems caused by missing teeth.

Out of the three options, a fixed bridge provides the sturdiest tooth replacement option.  A fixed bridge can be compared to having three crowns.  The two adjacent teeth to the missing tooth are prepared for crowns and a false tooth is attached between these two crowns to fill the space left by a missing tooth.  The benefit of a fixed bridge is that it proves stability and that it is fixed in a person’s mouth.  The look of the false tooth in a fixed bridge is similar to a real tooth and most observers will be unable to notice that there were teeth missing in the first place.  However, since a fixed bridge requires that three teeth need to be worked on, then unnecessary dental work may have to be performed on perfectly healthy teeth.

Out of all of the teeth replacement options, a removable appliance is the most economical option.  A removable appliance is a cheaper procedure to obtain than a fixed bridge or a dental implant and has the advantage of being able to replace multiple teeth with one appliance.  In certain conditions the most practical solution to replacing missing teeth, a removable appliance can range in stability and appearance depending on the material used to make them.  Referring to something as basic as a budget flipper that is a piece of plastic with a false tooth attached to a metal and acrylic removable partial denture, a removable appliance is also the least aesthetically pleasing missing tooth replacement option.  This is because removable appliances contain clasps that are often impossible to completely conceal.  Additionally, wearing a removable appliance can be uncomfortable for your other teeth.

The most popular method of replacing missing teeth or a missing tooth is with a dental implant.  A dental implant is an artificial root that is implanted to a person’s jaw to replace a missing tooth.  A replacement tooth is then placed on the artificial root, which mirrors the look and feel of a tooth.  The dental implant is fixed and is the most aesthetically pleasing tooth replacement option.  However, it is an expensive and time-consuming procedure.

Regardless of the tooth replacement option appeals to you, it is essential that you replace any missing teeth due to the dental risks that it causes.

Fill Out The Form Below To Locate a Dentist In Your Area
Name:
E-mail:
Phone Number:	- -
Nearest Major City:	--- Select --- Atlanta Austin Battle Creek Beverly Hills Blue Bell Boca Raton Boston Calgary Chicago Cincinnati Cleveland Columbus Dallas Denver Detroit Fairfield Fort Lee Honolulu Houston Indianapolis Jacksonville Jefferson City Kansas City Knoxville Las Vegas Little Rock London UK Long Island Los Angeles Maryland Miami Milwaukee Montreal Naples Nashville New Hampshire New Jersey New York City Oklahoma City Orlando Palm Beach Philadelphia Phoenix Portland Richmond Sacramento San Clemente San Diego San Francisco San Jose Santa Barbara Seattle Somerville Sunnyvale Tampa Toronto Vancouver Washington DC
Procedure:	Smile Makeover Porcelain Veneers Invisalign Zoom Dental Implants Cosmetic Dentistry Teeth Whitening
Comments:
Enter the security code shown below: