Free Dental Directory of Diseases, Aliments and Solutions

If in the event you have recently lost a tooth because of long-standing problems or an accident, it is extremely important to contact your Dentist to obtain a temporary replacement.  It is equally as important for you to know that not replacing a missing tooth can start a chain reaction of dental problems that can affect the overall health of your entire mouth.  Problems include:

• shifting of the adjacent teeth

• collapse of your bite

• extrusion (growing out of the socket) of teeth on the opposite arch (teeth in the upper or lower jaw)

• jaw-joint problems

• an increased likelihood of gum disease around teeth that have tilted or shifted.

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"Flipper" Temporary:

A "flipper" (temporary, with no involvement of adjacent teeth) is a plastic partial denture with a tooth bonded to its front edge.  On the upper arch, it covers all or part of your palate and is an excellent, temporary solution.

            Disadvantages:

It tends to feel bulky and make speaking difficult.  It becomes loose, and it may fall out of place.  If you have a high smile line (your lip comes up fairly high when you smile) it may not look as natural as you would like. Flippers are widely used by Dentists as a temporary replacement for missing teeth.  They tend to work more effectively on the upper teeth. Although some people attempt to wear them as if they were permanent repairs, they are definitely short-term solutions.

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Maryland Bridge:

Installing a resin-bonded Maryland bridge requires a slight reduction of the backs of the adjacent teeth.  The bridge, which includes a replacement tooth with small 'wings' attached, is bonded in place.  It's an aesthetically-pleasing missing tooth replacement that requires only minimal tooth reduction, but it can not be used if your bite is off or if you grind heavily on your front teeth.

If you do not want any part of your adjacent teeth reduced to help support a dental bridge, then you only have two options: implants or partial dentures.

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Implants:

A dental implant is a small titanium metal cylinder that is surgically implanted in the bone of the jaw to replace the root of a missing tooth.  A crown can then be attached to the implant with a screw, or the crown may be directly cemented onto an extension that is threaded into the implant.

            Advantages:

An implant doesn't involve grinding or reduction of the adjacent teeth.  It looks natural, and helps to reduce the bone and ridge loss that often occurs after a tooth has been removed.

            Disadvantages:

An implant requires three to nine months to complete (the implant requires several months to fuse to the bone), it is the most expensive of all options, and it requires surgical placement (a minor surgical procedure).

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Alternatives to Partial Dentures:

Some of the alternatives to a partial denture are:

• Bridges (in some cases)
• Implants
• Dentures
• Delaying treatment

In those cases where not enough teeth exist to place a bridge, the problem can be solved by placing an implant.  A dental implant is a small titanium cylinder that's surgically inserted into the bone of the jaw to replace the root of a missing tooth.

Although not necessarily recommended in most cases, removing the rest of your teeth and replacing them with a denture is another alternative.

You can also delay treatment, but be aware that infected teeth and gums never heal on their own. They simply keep getting worse.  If you are not experiencing constant severe pain, you might decide to leave your teeth as they are, at least for now, but that could prove to be risky.  Infections of the teeth and gums can weaken your body's immune system, and that could result in affecting your overall health.

In some cases, a partial denture is the best alternative to fill in spaces left by missing teeth and to keep you chewing comfortably and effectively.

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