Effective and affordable teeth replacement options for you.

The loss of your tooth to dental cavities, decay or other tooth infection does not render you toothless for life as you might think. Dental science has made tooth replacement easy and affordable for you. If you’re looking for the best options for tooth replacements, this is meant to guide you.

Teeth replacement is the act of using artificial measures and materials to replace a missing tooth. A missing tooth does not just affect the aesthetics of the face, it also has some serious oral health implications. Therefore, teeth replacement is not only important for the restoration of your alluring smile,  it is also vital to replace missing teeth for health reasons.

Despite giving your teeth a hundred per cent care, you are still susceptible to losing a tooth to circumstances beyond your control. This would inevitably require you to go for tooth replacement. Tooth decay, gum disease, the impact of injury and genetic conditions are among the reasons behind a missing tooth.

Teeth replacement options

A lot of options are available for you when deciding on teeth replacement. This is dependent on your budget, the durability of the replacement option and your dentist’s professional advice on your oral health.

Dental implants: Dental implants are specially designed implants used for the artificial replacement of one or more missing teeth. Dental implants are made up of a titanium root fixed under the gum line and are inserted into the jawbone. A dental implant is a permanent base for a replacement tooth.

Dental implants should be considered for their durability, permanence and ease of maintenance. However, dental implants carry a considerable amount of risk as a surgical procedure has to be undergone to insert the implant. Also, a dental implant for tooth replacement is a bit more expensive than other options and also takes a long time to perfect.

Fixed dental bridge: A fixed dental bridge is a replacement for one or more missing teeth. It is used to bridge a gap caused by a missing tooth with the use of an artificial or prosthetic tooth.

There are two types of fixed dental bridges and are the Implant-supported fixed bridge and Tooth-supported fixed bridge. They serve different purposes and your dentist will suggest which one’s best for you based on your teeth.

Bridges improve the appearance of your natural teeth as they look and feel like your natural teeth. They are also one of the most affordable teeth replacement options available. However, cleaning around the tooth under a bridge can prove a little difficult. Also, fitting bridges might call for altering existing teeth and bacteria can seep under a bridge causing tooth decay.

Dentures and Partials:  Dentures are removable prosthetic devices that are used for the replacement of missing teeth and tissues. There are two main types of dentures and they are used for different purposes. They are the Complete dentures and the Removable partial dentures (RPD).

Complete dentures: Complete dentures are further divided into two types. The conventional or the immediate type of denture.

The immediate denture can be fixed as soon as your teeth are removed while the conventional dentures need about eight to twelve weeks to be fixed. Conventional ventures are fixed after some weeks to allow the gum tissues to heal after the teeth have been removed from them.

Complete dentures are used when all your natural teeth are missing.

Removable partial dentures(RPD): Removable partial dentures are made up of replacement teeth attached to a natural-looking pink base. The pink base is made to match the colour of your gum.

Unlike complete dentures, removable partial dentures are used when one or more natural teeth are still intact.

Dentures last long and are durable. If you desire a removable teeth replacement option, dentures are perfect for you. Dentures also help to protect you from further tooth loss.

What if I decide not to replace my teeth?

Despite knowing all the affordable teeth replacement options you can get as an individual, you might still decide to do nothing.

However, you must keep in mind that the loss of one or more teeth can affect your speech, eating and subsequently cause other problems. If you develop difficulty in chewing with areas where you have missing teeth, you might resort to chewing with only one side of your mouth. This will affect the muscles of your jaw and face.

Refusal to replace missing tooth might cause tooth grinding, sensitivity and difficulty in chewing.