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 tooth replacement option is a removable denture. These have been used for centuries to replace missing teeth. Although they have limitations, they remain the most common tooth replacement option today. Modern technology has improved the appearance and functionality of removable dentures.

There are two main types of dentures: partial and full dentures. Partial dentures replace some of your teeth and typically rely on your remaining teeth for support and security. Full dentures replace all your teeth in an arch and generally are secured (we use the term loosely here) 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 that is not well secured in your mouth. That’s because the dental flipper is designed as a temporary restoration, used while your mouth is healing after an extraction or implant placement.

A dental flipper can look attractive when in place, but its weak attachment means it’s not very functional for biting or chewing. They may also make it difficult to speak clearly.

Overdentures

Overdentures are removable dentures that fit over your remaining teeth. These are like implant dentures, except they use your remaining natural teeth to support them instead of implants. These can be either partial dentures or full dentures, depending on how many teeth you have left and their positions.

Overdentures have replacement teeth built into a support structure with dental crowns that fit over your remaining teeth, which have been specially prepared to fit into the crowns.

In the right situation, overdentures can be both attractive and highly functional. They can look, feel, and function as if you have your natural teeth back. However, overdentures can sometimes accelerate the loss of your remaining teeth, so their use as a long-term solution is dubious.

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.