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4 Alternatives For Missing Adult Teeth
July 14, 2016  |  Dental Implants

4 Alternatives For Missing Adult Teeth

You can lose your adult teeth if you haven’t been taking care of them. They can be lost on account of poor dental hygiene, plaque deposits, crowding, gum disease, tooth decay, periodontists, and accidents in sports.

It is recommended to consult your dental care professional to browse your options.

As a rule, when adult teeth are lost, they do not grow back. However, there are several treatment options to replace missing teeth using artificial replacements like dental bridges.

Recommended Article: Implants Are The Best Choice For Missing Teeth


1. Tooth support bridges are the affordable options

Your dental care provider can recommend tooth support bridges in order to fill the gaps left by your missing adult teeth. Tooth support bridges depend on the teeth surrounding it to be fixed properly. They function like a normal tooth but can take some time before it feels natural.

Tooth support bridges do not require surgery, but it needs several appointments before it can be fixed in place. The crowns used in these bridges are made artificially and are usually of ceramic, or porcelain fused with metal. Dental bridges are the most cost-effective solution to missing adult teeth.

2. Dental Implants are the most effective option

This involves a complete restoration overhaul by using metal implants to be set in your jaw which attaches to a metal or porcelain abutment. The abutment becomes a solid support for an artificial crown that imitates a natural tooth in perfection.

Use of stronger materials such as ceramic, porcelain fused with metal, and metal to build the artificial crown will help the implant function better as a normal tooth. It is by far the most effective solution as it can be easily applied with dental surgery.

It is an expensive operation as an implant needs to be created artificially from square one and is also customized to suit your teeth. It is a moderately cost-effective solution, as compared to dental bridges, but maybe not the best option if you have to replace an entire arch as it will be very expensive. It is best to consult with your dental care provider on the best possible solution.

3. Dentures can help feel natural
Missing adult teeth is also treated by filling the gaps using dentures. You can be prescribed partial dentures which rely on support from other teeth in the jaw. It can also have mechanical support which connects to the remaining ridge of the gum and the underlying bone.

Dentures for upper teeth can have support that relies on the suction exhibited by the roof of your mouth. They are a reliable replacement for missing teeth, but unlike dental bridges, it can take a while before it feels normal and functions as a normal tooth should.

4. Drifting and bone resorption
A more natural course with minimal surgical involvement includes drifting and bone resorption treatments. Drifting mostly occurs naturally as teeth tend to shift in our mouth and existing teeth will slowly reduce the gap where the missing teeth used to be. Using dental bridges is an advantage, as drifting is controlled and the teeth surrounding the gap don’t create gum pockets between your teeth for plaque to deposit.

Bone resorption occurs as the bone that supports teeth shrinks over time on account of missing adult teeth.

There is a chance you can develop bone loss, so it is recommended to consult your dental care professional before opting for these kinds of treatments.
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