Need One or Two Teeth Replaced?

There are many reasons why people lose teeth, including periodontal disease, trauma or injury, congenital defects, root canal failure, excessive wear or fracture, and cavities.

The problem of tooth loss

It is important to know that when a tooth is lost, you actually lose two parts of the tooth. First, you lose the crown of the tooth (the visible part that you chew with). Second, you lose the root of the tooth ( the part of the tooth that holds the tooth in the bone, allowing it to be stable and strong during chewing and other functions).

Missing a tooth or multiple teeth can be the source of many problems, such as an unaesthetic or unpleasant smile, decreased ability to chew food, continued loss of critical bone, crowding or shifting of remaining teeth, TMJ joint problems, speech changes, and changes in the bite. It can also be the source of insecurity in social situations, stress, and lack of self esteem and confidence.

Options for tooth replacement

Dentistry offers three main treatment options for replacing a single missing tooth and/or multiple missing teeth. These dental treatment options include:

1. Removable bridges. These prostheses are known as “flippers,” or partial dentures. They replace the crown or tooth only and rest on the gums, but do not replace the root portion of the tooth. They typically are held in by silver or metal wires that wrap around other remaining teeth. Many people find them quite unsatisfactory—mainly because they have a limited lifespan, can cause slurring of speech or “whistling” when speaking, cover the roof of the mouth, and have to be taken out many times during the day for cleaning. Most importantly, they do not prevent bone loss, which can eventually destroy the structure of your jaw and cause teeth to migrate. Removable bridges need to be replaced every 5-10 years.
2. Fixed bridges. This dental option also only replaces the tooth portion (crown) and does not replace the root. A fixed bridge requires the sacrifice of the teeth next to the missing tooth—that is, the healthy teeth next to the missing tooth are filed down so they can be used as supporting structures/anchors for the tooth replacement. Crowns are placed on the ground-down teeth and are attached to an artificial tooth that fills the missing space, or “bridges” the gap. Filing down the adjacent teeth can cause additional tooth problems. Bridges are a one-tooth problem that takes three or more teeth to fix. Bridges typically need to be replaced every 10-15 years.
3. Dental implants. Dental implants are the more modern, technologically advanced solution to the problem of tooth loss. Implants replicate the natural function and appearance of your lost tooth, and are the only option that replaces all of the structure of tooth—both root and crown. Thus, they are the only option that prevents bone loss. Dental implants replicate the natural tooth in every way (in appearance, feel, function, and strength). They are simply as close to natural teeth as you can get. If properly cared for, dental implants can last a lifetime.

Although there are several options that dentistry provides to restore a missing tooth, none have proven to be as functionally effective and durable as dental implants. In almost all cases, dental implants may be the only logical choice for the restoration of all necessary function and esthetics of both the teeth and supporting structures