Missing Teeth

What is the best option for replacing missing teeth?

If you need to replace missing teeth, it’s a good idea to understand your options before settling on a final solution.
Removable Partial Denture
A removable partial denture is a great option when you’re missing a single tooth or even a number of teeth. Many people opt for a removable partial denture when missing front teeth, as it’s an easy solution for what can often be an unsightly gap in a smile. Removable partial dentures are usually worn during the day but removed at night and soaked in a cleaning solution. This allows it to be cleaned of any harmful bacteria and remain fresh in the morning. There are some disadvantages to removable partial dentures. As they are not a permanent solution, they can become dislodged or may move about when you’re talking or eating. This is often a fixable issue, but sometimes you may need metal clasps in order to help the partial denture retain its position inside the mouth.
Temporary Denture
Temporary dentures are a great short-term solution for missing teeth. They can be easily removed and so aren’t ideal as a long-term replacement for a missing tooth. Temporary dentures are used to allow the site of the missing tooth to heal prior to the patient getting a bridge or permanent implant.
Bridge
A bridge is a good option when there are still surrounding teeth around the missing tooth (or teeth). Bridges are a permanent solution and are cemented into place. Due to their permanence, bridges are great for people who are looking for a solution that won’t require much fiddling or constant adjustment. Bridges still need to be cleaned regularly, and there are tools that make it easier to clean under them. A significant disadvantage of bridges is that they sometimes require work on the teeth that surround the missing tooth, and this may involve cutting into healthy teeth. Further, bridges are usually only recommended for one or two missing teeth. They are rarely the best solution for more than two missing teeth.
Dental Implant
A dental implant is often the best solution for a missing tooth, or multiple teeth. A properly installed dental implant will look and feel just like a natural tooth. A dental implant is installed directly into the area that the root of the missing tooth previously occupied. It is then allowed to heal into the bone, and a crown is placed over the top. Implants are a great permanent solution and can be used to replace one or many teeth. They still need to be cared for like regular teeth, but can in many ways be more resistant to the problems that natural teeth face.