Forget about the dental jack-o-lantern look, because replacing a missing tooth doesn’t have to be scary. In fact, with today’s technology and care options, you can restore your smile back to full glory in no time! Here are four of the best options for replacing a missing tooth:
How To Replace A Missing Tooth
If you’re missing a tooth or just had a tooth pulled, you had a tooth extraction, you will have 4 options on what to do next. And I’m about to go over these four options from the least ideal situation to the most ideal situation, which is also least expensive to most expensive.
No Replacement
If you have a missing tooth that is not bothering your cosmetic appearance, maybe it’s super far back there and you can’t even tell what’s missing or if you don’t even notice it’s gone because you don’t have an opposing tooth to chew with meaning you lost a bottom tooth in your top tooth opposing it is also missing then unless you’re going to replace both sometimes not really functional anyway. So option one is to do nothing at all leave the gap leave it alone, but more often than not usually this is not the best option because you will have bone loss in this area over time and the opposing teeth if there are any can drop down.
Also, molar teeth are functional teeth, they are the ones that help you chew your food. So always, keep function in mind, but know that it is always an option to do nothing at all
Removable Partial Dentures
Get a partial denture or a flipper. Again, this does not keep the bone level where it should be. So you can get bone loss over time, although it will improve your cosmetic appearance and it can help you too if it’s a true partial denture but sometimes if it’s just the flipper, it’s for appearance only. Either way, you need to remove it every night when you sleep. But during the day, partials and flippers will fill the gap.
Some people may be only missing a few teeth which can be replaced with removable partial dentures. These are typically made out of a plastic that looks and feels like natural teeth, however, the downside is they must be removed every night to clean and they can only be used when eating soft foods. On average, this type of restoration costs about half as much as an implant or fixed bridge treatment but does require more frequent visits to maintain them which means there is some added expense involved.
Removable partial dentures cost anywhere between $650 and $2,500 (upper or lower, not both). The price of flexible partial dentures ranges from $900 to $2,000. Flipper teeth cost between $300 and $500. A fixed denture (dental bridge) is the most expensive.
Fixed Bridge
Get a bridge this used to be the best option to replace a missing tooth before implants came along. But now it’s not always the best option because you have to combine both adjacent teeth to the missing tooth. So if something goes wrong in the future with one of those two teeth holding the middle tooth in the bridge, you now lose the whole bridge all three crowns. Plus if the two teeth are healthy, you are putting crowns on healthy teeth that otherwise didn’t need to be disturbed with the drilling and the crowns and again you can lose bone in that area over time.
This treatment involves placing individual crowns over each remaining natural tooth in order to fill in and support the gap left by the missing tooth. Using dental implants, we can anchor ea ch crown into place using small screws that won’t be seen once everything is completed. You would get two visits with an intermediate appointment between where we would take impressions so that we can match up the color and size of your new teeth. Once they are fabricated, we will place them onto each individual anchor until we have successfully restored your smile.
Dental bridges are an affordable tooth replacement option. The cost of dental bridges varies, and with insurance the costs reduce significantly, but most patients pay between $300 and $1,000 for a bridge to replace a single tooth.
Dental Implant
The best option is to get a dental implant if you can. It is a standalone crown that does not play strain of any other teeth it does not disturb the surrounding teeth and it helps keep the bone level an implant is a screw that goes directly into your bone and after it heals you get a crown that screws on to it.
So like I said, as of today, implants are considered the best option to replace a missing tooth. But don’t get me wrong. There are situations when your bone isn’t high enough for the implant to be placed. In this case, sometimes you can get a bone graft where the dentist adds cadaver bone to your bone and sutures it up and then you’re all good and you’re all ready for a future implant however, and select cases whether it’s due to other situations with your bone due to health conditions or history of taking by phosphonates and select cases it is possible that you are not eligible for an implant. How to find out if you’re eligible. Always one make sure you provide a comprehensive updated health history for your dentist to review and two the dentist or dental surgeon will always have to take a CT scan on you before placing an implant so they can have a three-dimensional image of your jaw after a consultation with those two things, your health history, and your CT.
Dental Implants Before & After Photos With Real People Reviews
You will then be able to find out if you’re eligible for an implant. If for some reason you’re not eligible, it’s okay your dentist will determine the next best treatment option available for your individual mouth whether it’s a bridge or a partial or leaving it alone.
The average cost of a dental implant is anywhere between $1,000 and $4,500. This price typically includes the implant (artificial tooth root), the abutment (support post), and the dental crown (false tooth). If bone grafts are needed, the cost of treatment will increase.
Conclusion
Lastly, if you have not yet lost your tooth in question, and there is an option to save it with a root canal. I’m all for trying to save your actual tooth first before you get an extraction. It’s always best to have your own teeth if you can.
However, if the tooth in question is not salvageable and it needs to be removed, your dentist will help guide you in the right direction for decision-making any treatment planning.
Bridges: Bridges are a popular option for replacing a missing tooth when there is still a healthy tooth on either side of the gap. The bridge consists of a false tooth that is anchored to the surrounding teeth
. There are different types of bridges, including traditional bridges that involve the use of dental crowns and resin-bonded bridges that are attached to the adjacent teeth with metal or porcelain wings. Bridges can be made from a variety of materials, including porcelain, ceramic, and metal alloys. The choice of material will depend on the location and function of the bridge.
When considering a bridge, it’s important to weigh the pros and cons. On the one hand, bridges can restore function to the mouth, preventing surrounding teeth from shifting out of place and making it easier to eat, speak, and smile. They are also less invasive and less expensive than dental implants. However, bridges do require the removal of some healthy tooth structure to make room for the anchoring crowns, and they typically last between 5-15 years before needing replacement.
If you are considering a bridge, you should consult with your dentist to determine whether it is the best option for your individual needs. Factors such as the number of missing teeth, the location of the gap, and the health of the surrounding teeth and gums will all play a role in the decision-making process. Your dentist can also provide guidance on proper bridge maintenance, such as regular brushing and flossing and avoiding hard or sticky foods that can damage the bridge. With proper care, a bridge can restore your smile and improve your quality of life for years to come.
Bridges: Bridges are a popular option for replacing a missing tooth when there is still a healthy tooth on either side of the gap. The bridge consists of a false tooth that is anchored to the surrounding teeth
. There are different types of bridges, including traditional bridges that involve the use of dental crowns and resin-bonded bridges that are attached to the adjacent teeth with metal or porcelain wings. Bridges can be made from a variety of materials, including porcelain, ceramic, and metal alloys. The choice of material will depend on the location and function of the bridge.
When considering a bridge, it’s important to weigh the pros and cons. On the one hand, bridges can restore function to the mouth, preventing surrounding teeth from shifting out of place and making it easier to eat, speak, and smile. They are also less invasive and less expensive than dental implants. However, bridges do require the removal of some healthy tooth structure to make room for the anchoring crowns, and they typically last between 5-15 years before needing replacement.
If you are considering a bridge, you should consult with your dentist to determine whether it is the best option for your individual needs. Factors such as the number of missing teeth, the location of the gap, and the health of the surrounding teeth and gums will all play a role in the decision-making process. Your dentist can also provide guidance on proper bridge maintenance, such as regular brushing and flossing and avoiding hard or sticky foods that can damage the bridge. With proper care, a bridge can restore your smile and improve your quality of life for years to come.
