What’s the Best Way to Replace a Missing Tooth?

From gold teeth to dental implants, there are lots of ways to replace a missing tooth or teeth. Determining which method is most suitable for your missing teeth, however, can be a challenge. It often comes down to the current health of your teeth and gums and where in your mouth you need a replacement tooth.

Gold Replacement Teeth

Although gold is considered to be a primitive material for replacement teeth as far as dentistry goes, many dentists today still use gold in certain applications. Back teeth, or molars, for instance, can benefit from using gold because of its durability. Gold is one of the strongest replacement teeth materials available, and it can easily withstand the normal pressures of chewing. It is especially recommended for patients who grind their teeth or clench their jaws.

Porcelain Replacement Teeth

Porcelain teeth are also extremely durable, and are crafted to match your natural tooth color, making them an excellent option for replacement front teeth. These can be held in place with bridges – a set of crowns on both the new tooth and the two surrounding teeth – or you can choose to have your porcelain replacement tooth set more permanently with dental implants. Have your teeth whitened before choosing a porcelain tooth, so the new tooth will match your newly whitened teeth – porcelain teeth cannot be bleached.

Dentures and Partial Dentures

When several teeth are missing in a row, or when Dr. Cooper determines that extraction of several teeth may be the best choice for your oral health, dentures or partial dentures can be used to fill the gaps. Made of plastic or porcelain on a sturdy but flexible metal or alloy base, technological advances in dentistry have made dentures easier to maintain than they have been in the past. For those who cannot afford dental implants, dentures and partial dentures can allow you to have the smile you deserve without breaking the bank.

Dental Implants

Top of the line in restorative dentistry, dental implants offer extensive oral health benefits that other forms of tooth replacement cannot. With implants, a rod of metal is permanently fixed in the bone to serve as a new tooth root, and the porcelain teeth on top of the implants can easily be replaced when needed. Implants can also hold down partial dentures, with only one implant needed for as many as four teeth. By giving your bone and gum tissue something to cling to and grow around, implants can help prevent the bone loss that is commonly associated with missing teeth.

Call today to let us know how we can help you replace your missing tooth or teeth, and to schedule an appointment with Dr. Cooper to regain the confidence that comes with a healthy and beautiful smile.