Best Option for Missing Teeth Replacement
It is estimated that two-thirds of adults in the United States are missing one or more of their natural teeth, and almost 20% of US adults over age 65 are missing all of their natural teeth. The most common cause of tooth loss in adults is oral disease caused by poor oral hygiene. Losing even one tooth could make anyone self-conscious, and losing teeth also has an adverse effect on people’s ability to speak clearly and eat and enjoy their favorite foods.
Thankfully, there are many options available for people who want to replace one or more missing natural teeth. The most common dental replacement options are dental implants, implant-supported restorations, partial dentures, and complete dentures. Of course, there are people who choose not to replace their teeth, which is not recommended for a variety of reasons. Even if the missing teeth are not in a readily visible area of the mouth, not replacing them can lead to problems down the road. When teeth are lost, this causes the bone in that area of the jaw to weaken and shrink, which causes the adjacent teeth to shift, affecting the bite and alignment of the teeth and further damaging the bone. If you’ve been missing teeth for a while and you’re starting to realize you want to replace them, there are options for you, and some of them, like dental implants, can even help restore the strength and vitality of your jawbone.
A dental implant is a tiny cylindrical post, usually made of titanium, that is surgically implanted into the jawbone where the root of a tooth once was. If you have damaged or weak bone tissue in your jaw, you may need to have a bone graft procedure to prepare for implant placement. As the bone heals around the implant, it fuses to the post, in a process called osseointegration, creating a sturdy, stable foundation for a prosthetic crown, dental bridge, or denture. Dental implants are permanent, comfortable, and natural, and they help promote the growth of healthy bone. The implant itself is not the prosthetic; it is the support system for an implant crown, implant bridge, or implant-supported denture. Implant crowns replace single missing teeth, while implant bridges replace a partial or complete row of teeth. Implant-supported dentures replace all the natural teeth, and they can often be placed on as few as four dental implants.
Removable dentures can also be a good solution for people who are missing teeth. Removable partial dentures rely on the adjacent teeth for support and are used to fill in spaces where teeth are missing. Complete dentures replace an entire arch of teeth, either the upper or lower. While removable dentures are more affordable than permanent restoration options, they are less convenient and can also be uncomfortable, often interfering with their wearer’s ability to eat comfortably and speak confidently. When dental implants are not an option, removable dentures can restore some function and appearance to the mouth, but dental implants are the best option for replacing missing teeth.