Treatment options for the replacement of missing teeth
If a tooth or teeth are lost for whatever reason, it may be important that the space is closed to maintain the adjacent teeth in their correct position, restore the function and appearance.
There are three basic ways to fix a missing tooth or teeth:-
1. A removeable appliance - dentures 2. A bridge 3. A dental implant
1. Dentures
An acrylic plate with plastic teeth is formed on a model made from an impression taken by your dentist. It may cover a large area of the mouth and in doing so reduce the taste of food.
Partial acrylic denture Partial chrome denture
A chrome-based plate can be made to which acrylic teeth are attached. This stronger metal can be made much thinner but may require metal clasps to keep it firmly in place.
In some cases, tooth coloured or no clasps can be used to improve the appearance.
2. Bridges
Depending on the size of the space and the condition of the teeth, it may be necessary to prepare the adjacent teeth. An impression is taken and a bridge is made in the laboratory. A fixed dental bridge has a false tooth, known as a pontic, which is fused between two porcelain crowns to fill the area left by a missing tooth. The two crowns holding it in place that are attached onto your teeth on each side of the false tooth. The bridge can be cemented or bonded permanently in place. This is known as a fixed bridge. This procedure is used to replace one or more missing teeth. Fixed bridges cannot be taken out of your mouth as you might do with removable partial dentures.
Fixed Bridge Maryland Bridge
In some tooth spaces it is sometimes possible to make an adhesive bridge. This is called a Maryland Bridge. A Maryland bridge, is similar to a fixed bridge as it is permanently bonded to the teeth, however the dentist does not use crowns to attach it. Instead it has a metal wing on each side that is bonded to the tooth. It can occasionally debond but can be cleaned and re cemented. It has the advantage of minimal tooth preparation in unrestored teeth.
3. Dental Implants
Placing implants into the space as substitutes for the lost roots is the most natural way to replace missing teeth. In some instances an implant, or implants, can be inserted into a space to support a crown or a bridge. This treatment can only be considered after a detailed clinical and medical evaluation has taken place. Implants have the additional advantage of replacing the root and so retaining alveolar bone, otherwise lost following extraction.
Smiles Better Dental Care,
76-77 Norfolk Street,
Kings Lynn, Norfolk,
PE30 1AD
Site designed by System 3 Business Solutions. Content by Mandy Rawson.