According to recent research, approximately 15.5% of Australian adults have fewer than 21 teeth. While some teeth are lost due to a sporting accident or other type of trauma, many people need their teeth extracted due to severe decay, gum disease, or infection, resulting from poor oral health. To preserve your facial structure and protect your remaining teeth, it is vital to seek a dental replacement.
From dental implants to tooth supported-bridges, there is a wide range of treatments available. Explore the differences between some of the most common tooth replacement solutions so you can make an informed decision about how to replace missing teeth.
The Impact of Not Replacing Missing Teeth
There are several reasons why a person may have missing teeth, including hypodontia (a condition that causes people to be born with one or more missing adult teeth), injury, tooth decay or infection, and periodontal disease.
Whether you were born without specific teeth or lost them later on in life, not replacing missing teeth can negatively affect your life in a host of ways. In addition to diminishing your self-confidence and impacting your employment opportunities, missing teeth can have medical consequences, such as:
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Malocclusion
Not replacing missing teeth can lead to malocclusion as the teeth next to the space where the missing tooth should be shift along the gum membrane to try to close the gap.
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Bone resorption
Your teeth act as a stimulus for your jawbone, and without them, your body begins to break down the bone. Eventually, this can lead to noticeable hollowing of the face.
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Super eruption/overeruption
Without the opposite tooth to absorb the bite force when chewing and speaking, a tooth can emerge too far from the gum, exposing the root. As the root is less resilient to decay than the crown, this tooth becomes more vulnerable to cavities.
How to Replace Missing Teeth?
To avoid the potential effects of not replacing missing teeth, it’s important to choose a tooth restoration option as soon as possible.
Dental Implants
Dental implants are a popular tooth replacement solution as they are a comfortable, natural-looking option that is exceptionally durable. A dental implant is a tiny metal rod usually made from the biocompatible material, titanium, and is shaped like a screw.
During dental implant surgery, the dentist drills a small hole into the patient’s jawbone and inserts the dental implant. Over time the jawbone fuses to the dental implant, creating a sturdy base onto which an artificial tooth can be attached with the help of an abutment.
Dental implants can be used to anchor an individual tooth, several consecutive teeth, or an entire arch of teeth. Depending on the specific patient and the number of teeth they need to replace, the dentist will pair the dental implant to a bridge, a removable overdenture, or a crown.
Dental implants have many advantages as a tooth replacement solution, including:
- Dental implants look, feel, and function like natural teeth.
- There is no need to remove a dental implant.
- Dental implants don’t require any specific cleaning.
- Dental implants can last for decades, significantly longer than other common tooth replacements.
- Because dental implants are implanted directly into the jawbone, they stimulate tissue growth, avoiding bone resorption.
Tooth Supported-Fixed Bridge
While you can select dental implant-supported bridges, bridges can also be fitted in various ways without the need for a dental implant. Tooth-supported fixed bridges use the teeth that surround the gap as the abutments for the bridge. These teeth are filed down to take off the enamel to accommodate the 
bridge. The bridge consists of one or more pontic (artificial) teeth and crowns for the filed-down teeth, is fitted over the teeth, filling the gap.
Tooth supported-fixed bridges are a popular choice for patients wanting to replace missing teeth as they offer similar benefits as dental implants. Some people opt for these bridges because the procedure is cheaper, less invasive, and involves fewer trips to the dentist than having a dental implant fitted.
However, the main disadvantage of this type of bridge is that they permanently affect the surrounding teeth, which always have to be crowned due to their lack of enamel. It is also worth considering that, while the initial price for a tooth supported-fixed bridge is lower than the price of a bridge or crown supported by a dental implant, they tend to have a shorter lifespan of around five to ten years before they need to be replaced so the long-term costs may equal or exceed that of dental implants.
Removable Dentures
Removable dentures can replace an entire row of teeth, or partial, replacing either one or several consecutive missing teeth. Removable dentures can fit over the gums or be supported by dental implants.
Modern dentures look highly realistic and can significantly improve a person’s self-confidence and wellbeing. It’s worth noting, however, that dentures can take some time to get used to and they require thorough cleaning. Dentures typically need to be replaced every five years as they wear down and your jaw can change shape, causing them to slip when eating and speaking.
Restore Your Smile with Trusted Professional Dentists
The subject of missing teeth can be an emotional one for many people; it can tap into feelings of insecurity as well as oral health worries. However, there are many options for successfully replacing missing teeth, providing you with a healthy, happy smile.
The right option for you depends on your specific case. The best way to decide how to replace missing teeth is by visiting the experienced team of dentists at No Gaps Dental.
Our skilled professionals welcome patients warmly and will discuss your options for teeth replacement with you, making sure you understand everything and creating a customised treatment plan.
For more information or to arrange a consultation at a No Gaps Dental clinic near you, call us today on (02) 8806 0227.
Note: Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks.