Replacing Missing Teeth

Unfortunately, due to decay, gum disease, infection or trauma, most of us are going to be told at some stage in our lives that a tooth needs an extraction.

Because of this, many people in Princes Risborough, and other parts of Buckinghamshire come to us for advice on how to replace their missing teeth.

‘Why should I have a missing tooth replaced?’

When you lose a tooth, not only does it not look good, but the efficiency and function of the mouth suffers, placing more stress on the rest of the teeth.

In turn, this can mean that other teeth can start to chip and break under the added strain, over erupt, or the adjacent teeth to the gap can start to drift and tilt making them more difficult to keep clean which makes them more likely to decay. It is always recommended that when you lose a tooth you get it replace.

There are a number of ways to replace missing teeth:

1. Dental implants – This is the best option for replacing teeth if you are a suitable candidate. This is because they are a long lasting, natural feeling tooth substitute which are secured in the jawbone and have a very high success rate. An implant consists of two parts; a titanium ‘root’ which is surgically placed and sits in the jaw bone and a crown which is mounted on top after the ‘root’ has integrated with the bone (after a few months).
2. Bridge – A bridge is a fixed prosthetic device made up of two crowns with a false crown in between. These two crowns are attached to the ‘anchoring’ teeth either side of the gap and literally bridge the gap left by the missing tooth.
3. Denture – A denture is a removable replacement for missing teeth. There are different types of dentures available depending on your lifestyle and needs. While dentures do take some getting used to, they are custom made and are more comfortable and natural looking than ever before.

For more information and advice, or to book an appointment please call us at The Bank House Dental Centre on 01844 343381.