Missing Teeth

I have a missing tooth/teeth, what can I do? There are four options:

option	advantages	disadvantages
leave the gap	cost neutral	Gap may be visible may lead to further problems
removable denture	minimal cost NHS and private options	Multiple visits movement during use has to be left out at night taken out to clean
bridgework	good looks, lasts well, strong bite NHS and private options	moderate cost two or three visits involves cutting healthy adjacent teeth
implant	good looks, lasts a lifetime           no damage to adjacent teeth private options only	initial higher cost involves  two stage surgery over 6 months

What is an implant?

 An implant is made of titanium and is surgically placed into the bone, where it ‘fuses’ with the surrounding tissue. Once it has fully healed ( 3-6 months) a tooth can be screwed into the implant.

You can replace single or multiple missing teeth in this way. Implants can last a lifetime and mean that the teeth either side of the gap are left untouched which makes it an excellent option. Your dentist will need to make a full assessment of the bone depth and quality, and may refer you for specialist imaging before deciding if an implant is possible. Visit the patient sections of www.adi.org or www.nobelbiocare.com for more detailed information about dental implants. At kingswalk dental practice we have a team of experienced dentists, nurses, technicians and support staff and we follow all current guidelines and protocols ensuring you receive the best possible care from initial planning, through first and second stage surgery to final fittings.

An example of two missing teeth restored with implant reatined crowns:

What is a bridge?

A bridge has two parts, the retainer, which is fixed to your tooth and is attached to the pontic , which fills the gap where a tooth has been lost. The retainer(s) , may be a crown( this is called a fixed bridge)  In some cases the retainer is a metal wing ( this is called an acid etch or Maryland bridge) which is cemented to the back of your tooth. A wing retainer has the advantage of requiring less tooth preparation than a crown, therefore preserves as much of your own tooth as possible. It has the disadvantage of being less strong and more prone to coming loose than a fixed bridge.

An example of a fixed bridge to replace a missing canine using the two teth either side of the gap as retainers.

an example of an acid etch bridge to replace a missing premolar  : ( the metal wing is only visble from inside the mouth)

What is a denture?

Full dentures ( false teeth) are made of plastic and replace all of the teeth. Partial dentures replace one or more teeth and are held in by clasps around your own teeth. They can be made of plastic or cobalt chromium. Your dentist will take imprints of your mouth over a number of visits to send to the lab where the denture is constructed.