If you are facing the loss of one or more teeth, you might be considering your options for handling the open space where your tooth used to be. Dental implants, often placed by an dental surgeon in Torrance, are the best tooth replacement option available. They are the most like your natural teeth. They look like natural teeth and function like them, too. They’re easy to care for, and when properly taken care of, they can last a lifetime. However, it’s also important to consider alternatives to dental implants in case these might work better for you. Here are the other ways to deal with a missing tooth or teeth.

Removable Dentures

A typical teeth replacement option is a removable denture. These have been used for centuries to replace missing teeth. Although they have limitations, they remain one of the most common dental teeth replacement choices today. Thanks to modern dental surgery in South Bay and advancements in technology, removable dentures now offer improved appearance and functionality.

There are two main types of dentures: partial and full. Partial dentures replace some of your teeth and typically rely on your remaining teeth for support and stability. Full dentures replace all the teeth in an arch and are usually held in place—though not always securely—by suction.

Denture Locks or Magnets

Removable dentures are notorious because they are loose and tend to fall out. Denture locks and magnets give your removable dentures greater security by attaching them to your remaining teeth for support.

Dental Flipper

A dental flipper is a type of removable partial denture often used as a temporary teeth replacement while your mouth heals after an extraction or dental implants placement. While dental flippers can look attractive, their weak attachment makes them less functional for chewing and can sometimes affect speech clarity.

Overdentures

Overdentures are designed to fit over your remaining teeth. These restorations work similarly to implant dentures, but instead of implants, they rely on your natural teeth for support. Overdentures may be partial or full, depending on how many natural teeth remain.

In many cases, a prosthodontist or periodontist may recommend overdentures as a short- or medium-term solution. Overdentures use dental crowns built into the support structure to anchor replacement teeth, helping them look and function like new teeth. However, they can sometimes accelerate the loss of remaining natural teeth, so they’re not always the best long-term option.

For patients seeking a more stable solution, fixed options such as a dental bridge or implant-supported restorations can provide a stronger, longer-lasting alternative. These treatments offer improved comfort, stability, and function, ensuring your dental teeth replacement looks and feels like your natural smile.

Dental Bridges

Dental bridges are sometimes called fixed partial dentures because they are a form of denture that is fixed in your mouth. Traditional dental bridges are essentially overdentures but bonded to the teeth that support them. A dental bridge has replacement teeth connected to one or two dental crowns that fit over natural teeth to support the replacement teeth.

In the past, dental bridges were used in many combinations of replacement teeth and dental crowns. However, now that we have dental implants, dental bridges are often limited to a three-unit restoration: one replacement tooth supported by two dental crowns. This configuration provides the best support for replacement teeth with a minimum risk to your remaining teeth. The cost is also comparable to a single dental implant, though the implant tends to be a more durable solution.

Maryland Bridges

Maryland bridges are dental bridges that don’t rely on dental crowns for support. Instead, it has a pair of wings that extend behind the neighboring teeth. Your dentist will bond the wings to the neighboring teeth for support. This type of bridge is less invasive–we don’t have to prepare any of your teeth for dental crowns–but it’s also less durable.

Orthodontics

In some cases, you might be able to move your remaining teeth to fill the space left by one or more lost teeth. This can address the possible problems caused by a gap between teeth, restoring your attractive smile without needing replacement teeth.

This option is best if you already have tooth crowding and/or you still have teeth coming in, such as wisdom teeth.

No Replacement

It’s possible to not do anything with the space left by a lost tooth. This is the simplest and (at least initially) the least expensive alternative to dental implants. However, this is not generally recommended because it can negatively impact other teeth and overall oral health.

  • Our teeth depend on each other for support. When one tooth is missing, the others can suffer. They might experience excessive bite force, increasing stress and wear on those teeth.
  • Your teeth support and stimulate your gums and jawbone. When a tooth is removed and not replaced, the jawbone and gums can deteriorate in that place, often necessitating dental surgery later on.
  • Teeth also hold each other in place; when there’s a gap, your remaining teeth can tilt and drift. This can make it much more difficult to clean around your teeth, contributing to gum disease and further tooth loss in the future.

Find the Best Tooth Replacement for You in Torrance, CA

At PermaDent, we believe in matching each patient with the tooth replacement option that will best meet their needs. For many people, dental implants are just the best choice. However, we also carefully consider dental implant alternatives so you can get the best treatment for you.

Call our Torrance dental office at (310) 325-9969 to discover the best solution for your missing teeth with our expert dental implant surgeon.