Tooth Replacement Options

It’s vital that you quickly replace a missing tooth. It’s not just about your looks –- the replacement serves to restore optimal tooth function, sustain correct alignment of adjacent teeth, and maintain your facial contours.

Here are some of the replacement options which you can discuss with your dentist to determine the most appropriate.

Dental Implant

Dental Implants sets the benchmark for tooth replacement. It consists of anchoring small screws to a healthy jawbone and attaching a separately created crown. For best results, the adjourning gums and teeth must be healthy which makes the procedure untenable for some systemic health conditions.

Pros:

• Visually appealing, functional, and reliable
• Does not weaken the adjacent teeth
• Lowered risk of gum disease compared to a bridge
• Helps to restore the jaw

Cons

• Costlier than a bridge (though it will be cheaper in the long term because of its durability)
• Needs a minor surgery and some time to heal before the permanent crown can be attached

Fixed Partial Dentures in Rockford, IL

The three-unit fixed partial denture (FPD), or fixed bridge, was the tooth replacement option in vogue before the dental implant. A crown, which is affixed to the two teeth on either side of the gap, supports the false replacement tooth or “pontic.”

Pros:

• Cheaper than implants
• Takes less time to install
• Aesthetic and functional

Cons:

• More vulnerable to tooth decay
• Underlying jawbone may deteriorate with time
• The abutting teeth have to be altered to accommodate the crown

Removable Partial Dentures (RPD) in 61107

An RPD replaces one or more missing teeth and is anchored by gum-like plastic supported by clasps that hook onto adjacent natural teeth. It can be detached for cleaning.

Pros:

• Aesthetic, functional
• Cheapest option

Cons

• Increased vulnerability to gum disease and tooth decay
• The tooth may become loose
• Maybe unstable and uncomfortable
• May lose fit over time
• The underlying jawbone may deteriorate over time