Bridges And Dentures To Replace Lost Teeth

A look at two of the main options available to you when you lose a tooth.

Losing a tooth can have a significant impact whatever part of the mouth the missing tooth is from. Undoubtedly though, tooth loss causes most concern where it leaves a visible gap, such as the front of the mouth where a gap can be seen every time we open our mouths. While some people may decide not to replace a more hidden missing tooth, though you really should (we will discuss that another day), almost everyone will look to have some form of tooth replacement if it is a front tooth that has been lost.

The most common way of replacing a missing tooth is by using a partial denture. It isn’t the only option though and a bridge can sometimes be used too. In today’s blog, we will take a look at both of these as well as taking a brief look at a third option, implants.

Dentures

Dentures have been around for a very long time and have undoubtedly improved in appearance over the years. Modern dentures are generally more comfortable than they used to be too, with some being designed to adjust to movements of the mouth, making them less likely to move visibly and also to make speech easier. People are often attracted to dentures due to their smaller cost and the fact that, in many cases, no invasive dental surgery will be needed at our Wickford dental practice if you have dentures fitted.

Dentures aren’t for everyone though and they do have disadvantages. Some people find that they become unstable over time and may have a tendency to move around in the mouth. Not only can this cause embarrassment but can also affect the way that they speak. Choices of what to eat may also be at least partially determined by the fact that dentures are being worn as some people find that certain foods are harder to chew when wearing them.

Finally, dentures require daily cleaning. For this, they have to be removed from the mouth and cleaned. Breakages through dropping them in the sink while doing this are far from uncommon. Finally, they also need to be soaked overnight. This isn’t always the first thing that people want to see next to their bed when they wake up in the morning!

On the whole then, dentures work well for some people but less so for others. They are not the only missing teeth replacement available though.

Dental bridges

Although fewer people tend to opt for a bridge, it does offer a more secure tooth replacement option than dentures. This is because it is more permanently secured in the mouth. In essence, a bridge consists of a replacement tooth, or a number of adjacent teeth, with dental crowns at the end of them. The bridge will be custom made and as the crowns are attached to the teeth either side of the gap in your mouth, these have to be prepared and shaped to ensure a secure attachment. Once the crown has been attached with a strong clinical adhesive, this can provide a much more secure option for patients of the Cygnet Dental Practice than dentures. There are disadvantages though. The main one being that, in order to attach the crowns to the teeth, this usually requires preparing and shaping teeth that were otherwise healthy. This can deter some patients from undergoing this procedure and we do understand this and will work to find the best solution for you.

Cleaning a bridge is more straightforward than dentures as it is done in the mouth using brushing and flossing as usual. It can be quite difficult to clean beneath the bridge though and this is an area where gum disease may become a problem if not cleaned properly.

As you can see, there are pros and cons to the above options, but there is one more that is rapidly growing in popularity and that is the dental implant.

Dental implants – an alternative….

Unlike both dentures and bridges, a dental implant fitting not only replaces the visible crown section of the tooth, but the roots also. It is this that enables it to provide the level of strength and stability that they have become well known for. By using a replacing tooth root, the crown is firmly anchored into the mouth and prevents the replacement tooth from moving around. It also means that, once placed, you can eat pretty much any food that you wish without worrying if your new replacement tooth will be able to handle it.

Dental implants do require some invasive minor surgery and, if you would like to find out more about this, we recommend that you arrange a consultation with the implant dentist at our Wickford practice. It is a sophisticated treatment which should be explained properly rather than a basic interpretation of it by someone on social media.

Dental implants are a more expensive option but they can last for twenty years or more with good care and we also offer a range of payment plans to help you spread the cost of the treatment.

If you have missing teeth and would like to discuss the various tooth replacement options with one of our dentists, please call us today to arrange an appointment. You can contact the Cygnet Dental Practice by calling us on 01268 733078.