Best Option for Missing Teeth Replacement
If you are missing one or more teeth, you might be wondering what your options are to replace them. You have many things to consider for this, including the invasiveness and cost of your choice as well as the final aesthetic results and longevity of your solution.
Regardless of what you and your dentist choose, is clear that the lack of a tooth must be resolved as soon as possible. The solutions that your dentist can apply are essentially two: the bridge and the implant. Let's see them in detail.
The bridge, a solution without surgery
When the cause is not a traumatic event but a pathology, or in any case the lost tooth cannot be recovered, then the situation changes radically. Very often, the origin of the problem derives from periodontitis, i.e. damage to the periodontium, the tissue that is around the tooth and that supports it. In these cases, the most economical solution is the application of the bridge.
Bridge therapy essentially consists of the implantation of three capsules. Two empty capsules are placed over the adjacent teeth to fix and give a base to the full capsule, which instead occupies the empty space and thus replaces the missing tooth. This means that the teeth adjacent to the missing one must therefore first be filed, to allow the accommodation of the two lateral capsules that will serve to support the central one.
The advantage of using the bridge is certainly the cost-effectiveness of the treatment, but above all that it does not require surgery. This is why it may be the best choice for patients whose health status does not allow surgical intervention. However, it should also be noted that this option has two important limitations:
It is invasive because it requires the filing of the teeth adjacent to the missing one. This means that in order to solve the problem of a missing tooth it is necessary to intervene on two other elements, even if they are healthy and in excellent condition. After using the bridge, the adjacent teeth certainly become more exposed to the onset of caries and other gum infections. For this, specific attention and care is required.
There is the possibility that the bone underneath the missing tooth will gradually withdraw. This is because, once the bridge is implanted, even if the aesthetic problem is solved, the bone will no longer find a root to support. Consequently, it could in fact withdraw slowly, thus creating problems for other parts of the mouth.
The bridge is the most common of the fixed prostheses. There are also removable prosthetic techniques that can be used to replace multiple teeth or even an entire dental arch.
The implant, a less invasive solution
Another option, certainly less invasive than the bridge, is that of the implant. It is a real screw, above which a crown is placed to replace the missing tooth. This therapeutic option is less invasive because it does not require any operation on the teeth adjacent to the missing one. Precisely for this feature, the system is considered a very effective alternative.
Of course, your dentist must first check that your jawbone support is in optimal condition for an implant. In addition, you must be willing to maintain adequate oral hygiene after the surgery. In the event that these conditions exist, today, thanks to the development of the latest technologies, an implant can be placed in a few sessions and guarantees excellent results even in the long term.
Implants are generally more costly than bridges, but they last longer and function and look more like your natural teeth.