Having a missing tooth can significantly knock your confidence and, unfortunately, it’s not something that can be fixed at home.
Tooth loss doesn’t just affect your appearance. It can also be a detriment to your health and can interfere with eating.
There are many different reasons why you might have a missing tooth. The most common causes are injury, gum disease, and tooth decay.
If you’ve got one or more missing teeth, you should book an appointment to see your dentist. They will be able to find the perfect solution to your missing teeth so that you can regain your shining smile once again.
Here are some of the things that your dentist will recommend to restore your smile.
Dentures
A popular option to bring back your full smile is a denture. If there are only a few missing teeth, your dentist will offer a partial denture.
Dentures are held in place by a dental implant or implant retained dentures. The dentures get fixed to a base that resembles your gums to make them look natural and realistic.
Implant-retained dentures hold firmer and do not shift around in your mouth and they can help to prevent loss of the jaw bone. They can be used for either your top or bottom arches of teeth or both.
Dentures are a great way to regain your smile semi-permanently. They can last for years and years as long as you practice good oral hygiene.
Dental Implants
Dental implants closely resemble your natural teeth and they replace the root of the tooth that they’re replacing. For this reason, it may take several months for your bone to heal after the dental implants are inserted.
You will still be able to eat and brush as normal when you have dental implants. If you are only getting an implant for one tooth, the surrounding teeth will not be affected, so your natural tooth and mouth structure can be retained.
Dental implants may require more than one appointment and they may not last as long as dentures or dental bridges.
Dental Bridge
If there is only one or two missing teeth that are adjacent to each other, you may only need a dental bridge to restore your smile. It’s a permanent solution that will last for decades.
Your dentist will first trim down the teeth on either side of the gap. They will then use dental cement to secure the bridge over your gum where the missing teeth would be.
Dental bridges are most commonly inserted on the upper row of your teeth. This is because these teeth generally don’t need to flex as much as the bottom teeth, so there is less risk of the dental bridge moving around in your mouth and damaging the jaw bone.
If you’d like to learn more about each of these procedures and see which one is the best option for you, make sure to get in touch with your family dentist.
