Dental Care 101 | Permanent Tooth Replacement Options

Your teeth are the secret to that powerful smile whenever you take a selfie. They are also your very best friend when it comes to tearing the meat off a drumstick. But accidents do happen, and sometimes a tooth or two may go missing. Missing teeth may also take a natural path and occur when you considerably age. Doing nothing about it is not an option. The bone would eventually resorb, and the gums will pull away, making the adjacent teeth appear longer. That's why tooth replacement options are in plenty, and if you are looking for a permanent solution, then here are a few choices to put in mind.

Dental implants

Dental implants have been around for ages, and they continue to be one of the preferred top options for many. These are titanium replacements that are surgically placed to bond with your teeth. A screw is first inserted in your jaw bone where your tooth is missing, and it's what anchors the titanium implant. What makes dental implants so popular is the fact that they can last for years on end without any complications. You'll even be able to brush your teeth and floss just like before without worrying about them. However, you need to have enough bone before the surgery takes place. If not, you may be forced to undergo additional procedures to graft the bone.

Fixed bridges

With fixed bridges, the adjacent teeth are drilled with the aim of creating a bridge that joins them together. A new crown ('cap') is placed on the two adjacent teeth to the missing gap to suspend the fake tooth that is positioned between them. So the bridge would eventually consist of three parts; the false tooth and two caps on either side.

The best part of this option is that it doesn't require any surgical procedure to perform it. It's, therefore, a lot faster. Fixed bridges can also be done when there's little bone, unlike a dental implant. If you've got loose adjacent teeth, then fixed bridges would be a better choice because they join the teeth together and provide more strength. However, perfectly healthy teeth have to be drilled and reduced in size for this to work. You'll also need to be careful about your flossing because the bridge joins teeth together.

Acid-etched bridges

These are special kind of bridges that are meant to provide a permanent solution without altering the adjacent teeth. That means that you won't have to undergo any drilling before you can have these on, so your healthy teeth would be at their best. However, these bridges have a tendency of de-bonding from the adjacent teeth, since the adjacent teeth are not properly shaped and drilled to hold it.

For more information, talk to a cosmetic dentist.