Missing A Tooth? What Are Your Options To Replace It?

Leaving a gap in your teeth is not a good idea for several reasons. Our Epsom dentists discuss the replacement options….

We all hope that it won’t happen, but even if we look after our teeth extremely well, there is always the possibility of an accident that could cause you to suffer from tooth loss.

Gum disease and long term tooth neglect can also have the same result.

If the missing tooth is not obviously visible, we might be tempted to not replace it, but this is a bad idea as we will discuss in a minute. Anyone losing a front tooth will naturally want to replace it as soon as they can for very obvious reasons.

Ideally, any missing teeth should be replaced, even less visible ones. This is because as a gap appears, caused by the loss of the tooth, the teeth on either side of the gap will start to encroach into that vacant space. In doing so, they will also create their own gaps for other teeth to move into. As this continues, you will start to notice that your teeth are becoming crooked and uneven. Replacing the missing tooth can help to avoid this problem.

If we leave aside the option of not replacing the missing tooth, or teeth, there are three options that we can offer you at the Clocktower Dental, Implant & Facial Centre.

Dentures

Perhaps the best known tooth replacement method, dentures have been around for a very long time. Modern dentures are more advanced than their predecessors and the artificial gums can be made to match the colour of your natural ones to make them more discrete. Some dentures even flex with the mouth for additional comfort.

Whilst these are all beneficial improvements, dentures are not without their drawbacks for some wearers. Although they can be produced to look fairly natural, some people do find that they are not as comfortable or practical as they would like. Partially due to the fact that bone loss occurs in areas where a tooth has been lost, dentures can sometimes move around in the mouth a little. In addition to any embarrassing moments this might cause, this can lead to gums becoming sore and some patients find that it affects their speech for a while too.

Dentures are also quite fiddly to clean and require their removal for overnight soaking.

Bridges

A dental bridge is a replacement tooth or teeth which are typically fixed between two crowns and these are then attached to the teeth on either side of the gap in your smile. As these are attached in the same way as a normal crown, this does mean that they offer a better degree of security than dentures. Unfortunately, it also means that these natural teeth have to be shaped and prepared in order for the crowns to be attached and, understandably, a lot of people are reluctant to have this work done on teeth that are otherwise healthy. Bridges also require careful cleaning, especially underneath them to avoid the possibility of gum disease.

Dental implants

Ask most dentists what the best method of replacing missing teeth is and they will usually tell you dental implants; something that our Epsom patients who have them would almost certainly agree with. From the dentist’s perspective, they are an excellent choice because, unlike the other two options, they not only replace the missing crown part of the tooth but also the root. This means that bone loss in the jaw should be much less of an issue when compared to other methods.

Patients are probably more concerned with how dental implants look and feel though, rather than the more technical aspects of them. There is also excellent news here and implants can be made to look entirely natural and in the same style and shade as your own teeth. As far as aesthetics go, teeth implants certainly offer an excellent solution.

How do they feel though? Well, there is likely to be an initial period when some soreness occurs after they have been placed. This will soon ease and after a short period of time you will find that they feel as much like your own natural teeth as possible. Once fully integrated with the bone in the jaw, you will be able to almost forget that you have an implant rather than your own tooth.

As well as having natural looking replacement teeth that are strong, stable and won’t move around in the mouth, our Epsom patients will also benefit from the fact that you don’t remove them for cleaning. Cleaning implants simply requires a good general cleaning regime, with similar brushing and flossing to that used with your natural teeth. In addition to this, you should also see your dentist and hygienist every six months as normal.

We understand that for some people, the thought of having implants placed can be a big decision and we are always more than happy to talk to you about the various aspects of this procedure. If you would like to arrange an initial consultation with one of our team to discuss this, please call the Clocktower Dental, Implant & Facial Centre on 01372 720136.