A missing tooth can be an annoyance, especially when you’re chewing and food is constantly getting stuck between your teeth. It can also be unsightly, especially if the tooth is near the front of your mouth. This can make you self-conscious about your smile and damage your self-confidence.
In this instance, it can make a dramatic difference to your life and it’s important you know how to deal with this issue and get your smile back.
Of course, if you have a good dentist, such as this dentist Enmore and the tooth is missing because it’s been knocked out then you may be able to get it reattached. You simply need to grab your teeth, rinse it in water, and rush to your dentist to have it reattached in less than 2 hours.
Implant
This is potentially the most expensive option but it is also likely to be the longest-term solution and the most natural-looking and feeling.
An implant must be done by a dentist and is a surgical procedure. The implant will be made to fit your mouth and the tooth space, it is then fixed to your jaw, usually by drilling and bolting or gluing. Once it’s in place the dentist can create a cap or crown that sits over the implant and makes your smile look perfect again.
It is usually done in two stages, to ensure the implant part is secure and to give the dentist the opportunity to make the cap.
Bridge
A bridge is designed to fill the gap with a false tooth. But, instead of creating the tooth shape and fitting it over an implant, it’s created and fitted to two sidepieces, these hook onto the teeth each side of the gap and fix into position.
This fills the gap without the need for surgery. But, it will require several trips to the dentist to ensure it fits properly.
This option is not as strong as the implant but is significantly cheaper, making it a good option for front teeth.
Removable Denture
This is generally the cheapest option. Your dentist will design a section of teeth to replace a missing section, it includes a gum piece that sits on your gum, holding the teeth in place.
However, this type of replacement is likely to wear quickly, they are not as durable as the other options. They also can’t be worn all the time as they will become uncomfortable.
Just like the bridge, you’ll need several trips to the dentist to ensure they get the best possible fit.
It’s worth noting that this type of repair can be partial when it replaces several teeth, or complete, hen it’s replacing all you teeth.
If you’re missing all your teeth then this is usually the only method available as the cost of implanting every tooth in your mouth would be very expensive.
It’s important to look after your teeth properly but, if you are ever unfortunate enough to lose one you should make sure you get expert help and have the gap filled. It won’t just boost your confidence, it will stop your other teeth from moving around.