What do you do as soon as you see someone that you love? You smile to show them that you are happy to see them. You smile to make them see that their presence has made you cheerful. Smiling also reduces stress, releases natural painkillers and serotonin, and boosts your immune system.  But what if a few missing teeth lead to the loss of your smile? The inability to smile leads to a loss of self-confidence and may result in self-isolation. Thankfully, there’s no dearth of tooth replacement options.

With the best teeth replacement options available, you can get on your way to a perfect smile.

Let’s see why it is crucial to replace missing teeth first.

Why Should You Replace Missing Teeth?

People who have lost a tooth or teeth might wonder whether they need to replace it or not. Costs and recovery time are common reasons that hinder people from searching for teeth replacement options. 

It is imperative to replace your missing teeth or tooth. A healthy set of teeth is integral in maintaining your overall health and aesthetic appearance. A missing tooth can not lead to a lack of elegance but can also harm your dental health. 

It is important to remember that the more you delay the replacement of a missing tooth, the more complex and costlier it will be for your to complete this chore. Here are the top five reasons why replacing your missing tooth is essential. 

Appearance

From a cosmetic point of view, a missing tooth is not fun. It leaves a quite noticeable and embarrassing gap between your teeth, debilitating your self-confidence and self-worth. Whether functionally or aesthetically, your smile just isn’t whole when you are missing teeth. Replacing your missing teeth can help improve your appearance and your smile. 

Shifting Teeth

Our body has a reflex recovery response for any loss or injury. The same is the case with missing teeth. The teeth surrounding the gap of a missing tooth respond by shifting forward to fill the gap. Shifting teeth can lead to gum diseases and tooth decay. It also causes a misaligned bite and can cause jaw hinge issues, and be a general nuisance.

Shifting teeth can also lead to the painful movement of the jaw. A misaligned bite caused by shifting teeth can also lead to teeth grinding and clenching, which can cause other problems like fractured teeth and enamel erosion. 

Loss of Bone Volume

Your jawbone gets its exercise when you use your teeth to bite and chew. A missing tooth can lead to a loss of jawbone density as the gap area will not get the exercise required to maintain bone density. Replacing your missing tooth immediately is important as you want to do it while your jaw has a healthy bone volume to accept and adjust to the replacement. 

Chewing Ability

Missing teeth can severely hamper your chewing abilities. The oral cavity naturally works better with an entire set of teeth. Even one missing tooth can lead to trouble in chewing and adequately digesting food. Best teeth replacement options help restore the chewing ability as well.

Negative Impact on Mental Health

A missing tooth can be fun when you are a kid, but the same cannot be said when you are an adult. A sizeable hole in your smile leads to a lot of discomfort. It can affect your speech patterns, leading to lisps and unclear enunciations. A person suffering from tooth loss also loses self-confidence and the ability to interact normally in their social circle.

The Best Teeth Replacement Options You Can Choose

woman with Dentist for tooth replacement

A healthy set of teeth are a blessing. They help maintain your facial structure and give you the ability to chew. 

Research done by the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research showed that about 92% of people between the ages of 20 and 64 years suffer from tooth decay. Removing and replacing a natural tooth becomes essential when the affected tooth is beyond repair and has to be removed.

Recent advancements in the dental cosmetic industry have provided patients with the best teeth replacement options. 

Fixed Bonded Bridges

dental bridges

A fixed bonded bridge can replace one or more missing teeth. They are an outstanding tooth replacement option made from porcelain fused with metal. Porcelain-fixed bonded bridges are more popular as they resemble your natural teeth. 

Fixed-bonded bridges have two crowns permanently attached to the teeth next to the gap caused by your missing tooth. They are less costlier than dental implants and don’t have to be removed and cleaned after eating. For those on a lookout for affordable yet effective alternative, these can be the best teeth replacement option.

Dental Implants

Teeth Replacement Options dentist holding dental implants

A dental implant is a replacement tooth attached and fused to the jawbone. The implant is used to secure the tooth to the jawbone. They are one of the most common and best teeth replacement options.

Dental implants give the appearance of natural teeth and look like them, too. They can be highly reliable and last for years without requiring repairs and replacements when taken care of. 

Removable Partial Dentures

Teeth Replacement Options Removable Partial Dentures

Removable partial dentures are a simple and convenient option to replace missing teeth. Partial dentures are used to replace more than one missing tooth. A replacement tooth is attached to a plastic base that resembles the color of your gums to give an organic look. 

Removable partial dentures are a relatively cheaper option for replacing missing teeth. They are easier to repair and replace than dental bridges and dental implants. They also offer a quick fix to missing teeth. 

Tooth Supported Fixed Bridge

Tooth Supported Fixed Bridge

The list of best teeth replacement options is incomplete without the mention of tooth-supported fixed bridge. A tooth-supported fixed bridge is convenient for tooth replacement when one or two adjoining teeth are missing. Similar to a fixed bonded bridge, a tooth-supported fixed bridge uses the patient’s teeth to support the bridge. 

The replacement tooth prevents the adjacent teeth from shifting and looks and feels like your natural tooth. Patients can continue their oral hygiene habits to clean and maintain a tooth-supported fixed bridge. 

All-On-Four Implant Supported Dentures

All-On-Four Implant Supported Dentures

The all-on-four implant-supported dentures fix an entire denture by securing four dental implants. People missing multiple teeth sometimes cannot get dental implants in different places.

All-on-four implant-supported dentures are an excellent tooth replacement option for people with reduced bone density. These dentures are more secure than removable ones and tend to be stronger than regular ones. 

Get the Best Teeth Replacement Options at Le Sueur Family Dental

Le Sueur Family Dental aims to provide personalized and professional care for you and your family. Our clinic offers some of the best teeth replacement options that are available. Using state-of-the-art equipment, our highly skilled specialists always look for ways to give you beautiful smile makeovers. 

You can contact us by leaving your details so we can get back to you or by placing an appointment request to meet with us. You can also email us at office@lesueurfamilydental.com or (507) 665-6812. Let us be the reason for you to smile again.