Options for Missing Teeth

There are many reasons you might have lost a tooth—or even several teeth. Perhaps you play in your local hockey league and took a puck to the face, knocking out a tooth. Maybe your tooth became cracked or infected beyond repair and needed to be extracted—possibly along with a nearby tooth.

Whatever the reason, missing teeth can cause a host of problems. They can affect how you eat, how you speak, and how you feel about yourself. Missing teeth can also cause the teeth around the gap to shift. If you're missing a tooth—or several teeth—a visit to your Spokane prosthodontist may be in order. Prosthodontists, like the ones at Pacific Northwest Prosthodontics, are experts in replacing and repairing teeth. These experts will have several options for you to choose from to fill in the gap with a replacement that will look and feel like your natural teeth.

First Steps

The first step to getting a replacement for missing teeth is to meet with a prosthodontist. A prosthodontist has not only attended dental school, but received at least three years of additional training, focusing on handling the restoration of missing teeth and jaw structures.

The prosthodontist will ask questions about your overall health and the dental issues you are experiencing. If needed, the prosthodontist may take x-rays or make impressions of your teeth. Once the prosthodontist is well-versed about your specific situation, they can discuss your options with you.

Options for Missing Teeth

Each person is unique, and an option that works for one person may not work for another. You and your prosthodontist will work together to come up with a treatment plan that will work for you. Below are some of the options the prosthodontist may suggest.

Dental Implants

Dental implants are posts that are inserted into your jawbone. Once the post integrates with the bone in your jaw, an abutment and a crown are attached to the top. This is a permanent replacement for a missing tooth.

While the implant process can take up to a year to allow for healing between stages—some of them surgical—dental implants look and behave like natural teeth. Nothing is required from the surrounding teeth when an implant is put into place. Dental implants can be an expensive and time-consuming proposition, but once placed, they can last a lifetime.

Implant-Supported Bridge

If you are missing several teeth next to each other, an implant-supported bridge may be the answer. This appliance features an implant placed on either end of the gap where teeth are missing. The crowns in the middle are held in place by those two implants. The bridge blends in with the natural teeth around it. An implant-supported bridge is a great way to replace teeth when several have been lost in a row. There are, however, some downsides.

As with dental implants that replace one tooth, the process to place an implant-supported bridge is lengthy, requiring oral surgery and several trips to the prosthodontist's office. Unlike dental implants that replace one tooth, bridges are not a solution that last a lifetime. Bridges may need to be replaced over the years. Properly taken care of, though, an implant-supported bridge may last up to twenty years.

Tooth-Supported Bridge

Where an implant-supported bridge utilizes implants to secure the bridge to fill up a gap left by missing teeth, a tooth-supported bridge uses the teeth at each end of the gap. A tooth-supported bridge offers the same natural look as an implant-supported bridge. Unlike the implant-supported bridge, no dental surgery is needed to install a bridge supported by teeth. A tooth-supported bridge is more economical when compared to a replacement using implants.

Where the teeth on either side of a gap left by missing teeth are left alone when implants are placed beside them, for a tooth-supported bridge, these teeth are filed down and shaped in order for crowns to be attached to them. These crowns will support the bridge. It's important to ensure that these crowns are designed and placed properly. If they are ill-placed, it can lead to damage to the teeth underneath, perhaps even infection. Special care must be taken when cleaning for these bridges to last.

Removable Partial Dentures

Partial dentures that are easily removed are a relatively easy solution to missing teeth. A partial denture of this kind connects to the remaining teeth in your mouth. When fitted correctly, a partial denture can work just as your natural teeth did. There are several different types of partial dentures, each one made differently. Your prosthodontist can guide you in choosing what will work best for you. The most common removable partial denture is the cast metal type. These feature a metal base connected to your teeth with clasps or precision attachments. These are usually long-lasting, but the metal may be visible.

Dental flippers, or acrylic clasp removable partial dentures, are made of a pink material that sits on your gum tissue. These may look more natural, but they are more breakable than metal partials. Often, this type of partial denture is better utilized as temporary until a sturdier appliance can be made. A flexible partial denture is made from thin plastic and can be especially appealing to those who may be allergic to either metal or acrylic. While these may not last as long as cast metal, these are a good alternative when you need to fill in a gap.

Full- or Half-Arch Replacement

If you've lost an entire arch of your teeth to an accident, infection, aging, or some other cause, you have similar options to those listed above. All-on-4 dental implants can be used to fit an entire permanent top or bottom set of replacement teeth into your mouth. Removable dentures are also an option when you need an entire arch replaced. These are quite functional—with some restrictions—and they are custom-made to look completely natural. No matter what your situation is, your prosthodontist will advise you about the appliance that will best fit your lifestyle.

Find a Prosthodontist

If you're missing teeth, don't wait. Find a prosthodontist who can help fill in the gaps and get you back to your day-to-day life with confidence. If you're in the Spokane, WA, area, look no further than Pacific Northwest Prosthodontics. We're here to help you with all your dental replacement needs—contact us today!