Dental Solutions for Missing Teeth

September 26, 2014, Joshua Hong DDS

A tooth restoration is the ideal solution for missing teeth and is the most natural looking one.

There are several ways to restore missing teeth in dentistry. Dentists use advanced technology and methods to restore the teeth to perfection.

Dental Fillings

Dental fillings are the most popular and common procedure to restore the natural shape of the teeth. Dental fillings come in various materials like gold, silver, plastic, amalgam, glass and resins. Sometimes a dentist would also prefer to use a combination of materials. Dental fillings are mainly used to fill in the gaps caused by cavities. If cavities are neglected, they can cause irreparable damage to the teeth over a period of time. These fillings cover the holes or cracks in teeth and prevent infection. Dental fillings are also used to cover a chipped and broken tooth.

Dental Crowns

Dental crowns are caps that are used to place over a damaged tooth. They are mainly used to restore the shape and the size of the tooth. Crowns play a multifunctional role in dental fixtures. Apart from covering the tooth, they can also be used to hold a dental bridge or cover an implant. A dentist would suggest the use of a crown to protect the teeth. These crowns look like natural teeth and are made to fit the damaged tooth exactly. However, a dental crown cannot completely replace the missing or damaged tooth.

Dental Bridges

Dental bridges are false teeth by nature. They are used to bridge the ugly gaps that occur in the teeth structure. These bridges are usually supported with the help of crowns and they are fixed permanently to the teeth using dental cement. Gaps can occur in the teeth structure due to old age and various other incidents, like accidents and deterioration. Dental bridges are often permanent solution for filling in the gaps of the teeth. Bridges cannot be used to replace missing teeth entirely.

Dentures

Dentures are artificial teeth that are used to replace several missing teeth at a time or the complete teeth structure. Dentures can be fixed permanently or they can also be constructed in a removable fashion. Complete dentures and partial dentures are two common types of fixtures used in dentistry. Partial dentures are fixed to the gums using clasps, and are attached to natural teeth.

Dental implants

Dental implants are a permanent solution for missing teeth or complete replacement of teeth. They are usually very expensive because of the nature of dental work involved in it. Dental implants require surgery to be placed in the mouth and is a time consuming process. However, they are the closest looking fixtures for the teeth. They give teeth a natural look and feel effortlessly. Implants are made out of complicated mixture of materials that are long lasting.

Modern dentistry offers several solutions for teeth problems. Discolored teeth, missing ones and broken or chipped teeth look bad when you smile or eat. It creates a bad impression in professional and social life. In order to find the perfect tooth restoration option, consult your dentist today. 

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