The shape, size, and organization of your teeth are unique to your smile, therefore there are no one-size-fits-all solutions to replacing them if one or more teeth go missing. Although small and seemingly simple in design, healthy teeth are accurately positioned to displace the pressure of your bite. So, your replacement tooth/teeth must effectively restore this balance to restore your bite and your smile’s confidence.
Replacing a Single Lost Tooth
Though losing a single tooth may not be as obvious, or as devastating, as losing several, the loss can still negatively influence your dental health. Over time, remaining teeth may drift towards the empty space to try and take up the slack, leaving those teeth vulnerable to infectious tooth decay, excessive wear from an imbalanced bite, and possibly loss.
To replace a single lost tooth, your dentist may recommend a dental bridge, which consists of a fabricated replacement situated between two lifelike dental crowns. The crowns are attached to the teeth adjacent to the gap, called abutment teeth, and hold your prosthetic tooth snugly in place.
Replacing Several Lost Teeth
You may be familiar with dentures and their ability to replace an entire row of teeth, even if you don’t personally need them. Did you know, however, that modern dentures can also replace several lost teeth while leaving the few that remain intact? Often called partials, partial dentures are designed for your replacement teeth to fit around existing teeth using inconspicuous clasps, enabling you to eat, speak, and smile with confidence again.
