What are my options if I’m missing a tooth? By Dr. Emmy Le DDS

Dr. Emmy Le DDS is a dentist in Garden Grove, California. She runs a thriving dental practice for the whole family. The articles posted are designed to answer the most common dental questions she receives in the office. If you have any question contact us at one of our links below  If you find these articles helpful, please share them.
Losing a tooth can cause the teeth next to and opposing the open space to shift around.  This increases the risk of gum problems, infections, and decay in those neighboring teeth.  It can cause your bite to be misaligned, which could lead to teeth wearing out faster than normal.  Your front teeth may shift leading to aesthetic issues.  It is recommended to replace teeth if you are missing any.
Although it is preferable to avoid situations that could potentially lead to the loss of your teeth, unforeseen circumstances could also cause such injuries to the gum or teeth.  Perhaps you were born missing a tooth or lost one due to infection or trauma.  Our patients ask us daily about how to replace missing teeth so we have put together this article to answer these common questions.
What are my options if I’m missing a tooth? How do you avoid tooth decay as a result of missing a tooth, as well as maintaining oral health? Can I close the gaps in my teeth with braces?
If any of these questions ring a bell, this article is for you!
At the end of this article, I am hopeful that my readers will have the adequate knowledge about the options they have when they are missing a tooth as well as be able to make a well-informed decision about dental implants, fixed bridge, partial prosthetics, and full dentures.
Let’s get right into it!

Dental Implants

A dental implant can be the most conservative way to replace a missing tooth.  It does not attach to the adjacent teeth.  It is permanent, easy to clean and feels like a real tooth when you chew.  This procedure requires that a dental implant is inserted into the patient’s jawbone thus integrating itself into the patient’s bone structure.  Over time the implant becomes one with the bone and essentially becomes a new “root” for the dental crown.
A crown is then attached atop the implant post.  This is the part of the implant that you see and occludes with the other teeth when you chew.  
While dental implants are a wonderful way to replace teeth, they do take the time to integrate into the bone.  Start to finish, it may take 2-4 months.  Implants can also only be placed once a patient is done growing so it is not suitable for children and teenagers.  The bone that the implant is being placed into must be very healthful and be of adequate thickness for the success of the treatment.  We will take a 3D scan of the bone to ensure that the implant is the appropriate treatment for you.  

Fixed Bridge

A fixed bridge is another permanent, non- removable replacement for missing teeth.  A bridge connects adjacent teeth across an empty space.  The adjacent teeth are fitted with crowns which are connected by porcelain teeth to replace the missing teeth.   The teeth that we are depending on to support the bridge must be very healthy.   This is a great option for someone who already needs crowns on the teeth next to the open gap.  
A fixed bridge does not take as long as an implant to complete.  The entire procedure could take 1- 2 weeks with just 2 visits from start to finish.  The costs are less than implant treatment typically.  You may also be able to replace multiple teeth with one bridge.
It can be more difficult to clean a bridge as there will be certain areas where you cannot use regular floss.  We will show you how to clean your bridge with floss threaders and a water flosser.


Partial Prosthetics

Another option to replace missing teeth is a removable partial denture.  Partial dentures are mostly recommended for patients who have several missing teeth in separate areas of their mouth.  They are also recommended for patients who do not have enough strong bone to support dental implants or healthy enough adjacent teeth to support a bridge.  
Partial dentures are made from a metal framework with realistic looking plastic teeth attached to it.  The support structures of the denture can be made invisible; no one will know you are wearing fake teeth!  We use your remaining healthy teeth to act as supports for the frame of the denture.  If you lose more teeth in the future, additional teeth can be attached to the frame.  This treatment can be very economical for someone who needs to replace alot of teeth.  


What about Full Dentures?

In some cases, a patient is missing a full arch of teeth.  Full removable dentures can be made to fit your jawbone and replace every single tooth in the arch.  These can also be made to look and function realistically!


Orthodontic treatment

In some special cases, the spaces in your jaw caused by missing teeth can be closed with braces or Invisalign.  This is a wonderful option as you do not have to deal with any extra or “fake” prosthetic teeth.  We will give you a complete evaluation and present all the treatment options to you.  
Still unsure about which option will work for you?
Please contact Dr. Emmy Le at her office in Garden Grove to figure out what the best option is for you.  Each treatment option has its benefits and drawbacks and we will discuss all these details with you so we can help you make the best decision!

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