
Treatment options for missing teeth should be preceded by a systematic gathering of information concerning the patient's medical, dental and social/family histories, followed by a thorough extraoral and intraoral clinical examination.
How much does it cost to replace missing teeth?
- Dental Bridge. An affordable way to replace missing teeth is a dental bridge that replaces one or more teeth with natural-looking teeth made from porcelain or metal.
- Dentures. Dentures are an affordable way to replace missing teeth. ...
- Benefits of Dentures. ...
- Don’t Forget About Dental Braces to Straighten Your Teeth. ...
- Final Words. ...
How do you repair a missing tooth?
Here are some factors to consider:
- Impacted chewing ability: If you are unable to grind food up properly before it is swallowed, your body may have a harder time breaking it down for proper digestion.
- Shifting Teeth and Jaw Pain: It is only a matter of time before the surrounding teeth will start to shift as the space begins to collapse. ...
- Domino effect: Teeth can be like a sports team. ...
What can you do for missing teeth?
What You Can Do About Missing Teeth
- Causes of Missing Teeth. All people lose their initial, or primary, set of teeth (commonly known as baby teeth) as they age. ...
- Impact of Missing Teeth. There are many reasons that missing teeth should be taken care of.
- Options for Replacing Missing Teeth. ...
- Summary. ...
- A Word From Verywell. ...
How to replace missing tooth?
Man Shows Love to Young Boy Who Got Accident by Replacing His Missing Teeth with New Ones
- A young Nigerian, Toheeb, who lost his teeth in an accident has got his bright smile restored to him
- Tunde Onakoya and his Chess in the Slum team took him to a dentist and his missing teeth were replaced
- Sharing the transformation photo of Toheeb on Twitter, many netizens took to his comment section and praised him

What is the treatment for missing teeth?
1. Dental implants. Dental implants are an option when you need to replace a single tooth, or when you're missing several teeth in different areas of your mouth. This treatment involves surgically mounting a titanium metal post or frame into your upper or lower jaw.
How do you treat missing teeth congenitally?
The available treatment modalities to replace congenitally missing teeth include prosthodontic fixed and removable prostheses, resin bonded retainers, orthodontic movement of maxillary canine to the lateral incisor site and single tooth implants.
Can you repair a missing tooth?
Dental Implants This type of tooth replacement is one of the most common methods. A dental implant utilizes a crown and an artificial root to create a real-looking tooth. Essentially, a dental implant replaces the root of your tooth with a metal post and will top it with a crown to make it look natural in your mouth.
What is a missing tooth called?
General Discussion. Tooth agenesis is a condition in which teeth are missing. Anodontia is a genetic disorder defined as the absence of all teeth. It usually occurs as part of a syndrome that includes other abnormalities. Also rare but more common than anodontia are hypodontia and oligodontia.
How do you treat a missing lateral incisor?
There are three treatment options that exist for replacing missing lateral incisors. They include canine substitution, a tooth-supported restoration, or a single-tooth implant.
What is the cheapest way to fix missing teeth?
Dentures. The most affordable tooth replacement solution is dentures. This is because they take the least amount of time to create. There is no surgery and no dental crowns to place.
Is dental implant painful?
Dental implants are considered to be the best options to replace missing or damaged teeth. The procedure itself is not painful since it is performed with either general or local anesthesia to completely numb the mouth. After dental implantation, once the numbness wears off, mild pain may be noticed by the patient.
How much do implants cost?
As we mentioned before, the dental implant or the "tooth root" of this procedure, can be anywhere between $1,000 to $3,000. But the dental implant is only one piece of the cake. Other costs that should be factored in are the abutment which is usually about $300 to $500, and the crown which is usually $1,000 to $2,000.
What is the best way to replace missing teeth?
Mini Implant – Dental implants are the best way to replace missing teeth. Mini implants are about half the size of the traditional implant and, therefore, about half the cost. They are made out of titanium and preserve the natural bone structure in your jaw.
Why does a tooth move when it is missing?
Also, with an open space above or below a tooth, that remaining tooth could shift or move because it has nothing to bite on.
How many teeth can a mini implant hold?
10. Dental Implants – A dental implant can be done for one tooth or for multiple teeth. Your dentist will check the bone density in your jaw to be sure that the screw will hold.
What is the best way to replace a tooth that has been knocked out?
1. Flipper – When one tooth has been damaged or knocked out in an accident, a removable plastic tooth can be inserted into the vacant space. This is best for a front tooth because less pressure is exerted when one is chewing. This option can work well short-term, especially for a scheduled social event, until a person can be seen by a dentist and receive a more secure and solid tooth.
How much does dental insurance cover abscess?
Keep in mind that traditional dental insurance usually only permits about $1,000 per year in coverage so an abscessed tooth will usually take the average person beyond this annual limit. In light of this, most people seeking assistance for the cost of replacing a missing tooth are thankful to learn about a discount plan or supplement to their employer paid dental insurance.
What does an implant look like?
An implant looks like, and is just as strong as, a natural tooth. A natural tooth has a root and a crown. The implant has a screw or cylinder (usually made of titanium) that is placed in your jawbone and an artificial tooth is placed on the implant. This gives the feel and the appearance of a natural tooth.
What are the factors to consider when choosing a dentist?
Your appearance, your age, your health, condition of your teeth, your bite, cost, length of time involved, and durability are all factors to be taken into consideration. Study all of your options and be guided by your dentist!
How does losing teeth affect facial tone?
In essence, the more teeth lost, the more bone lost. All facial muscles attach to the bone, so lost bone creates the loss of facial tone and, therefore, wrinkles. Conversely, one retains bone by replacing missing teeth shortly after they are lost. Removed teeth typically cause surrounding teeth to shift. That is why the very first step of the ...
How does tooth loss affect the body?
Data demonstrate a higher likelihood of systemic disease, gastrointestinal disorders, premature aging, and facial collapse. It may cause healthy teeth nearby to move out of position, creating an ugly, crowded, or awkward bite that causes pain in the temple or ear. Teeth may become longer in appearance, almost resembling a fang. The effects of tooth loss are insidious. They happen over time and, being part of the human race, people usually make adaptations to solve the problem – but they are the wrong adaptations. Here is an example. If one ankle is injured, people shift their weight and balance to one side. Without realizing it, they create an imbalance not only the legs, but in the neck and back muscles, too. When teeth are missing or hurt on one side, people do the same thing.
What is the first step in a dental exam?
That is why the very first step of the dental exam must include a complete evaluation of all remaining teeth BEFORE the problem is fixed. The remaining teeth may not rest in the correct position or have adequate bone support to ensure a stable solution for the long term.
How often should partial dentures be cleaned?
For longer durability and benefit to the gums, partial dentures must be removed at bedtime and cleaned at least once daily.
Do you have to clean the teeth next to a bridge?
Utmost care is required to keep the bridge clean and, most importantly, to clean the natural teeth next to the bridge. Decay repeatedly occurs on these teeth if they are not kept clean. When patients want the most predictable, long-term result to replace multiple teeth, they should consider dental implants.
Can teeth become longer?
Teeth may become longer in appearance, almost resembling a fang. The effects of tooth loss are insidious. They happen over time and, being part of the human race, people usually make adaptations to solve the problem – but they are the wrong adaptations. Here is an example.
Can missing teeth be digested?
Here is a strange, but true, statement: People with missing teeth do not even realize that they are not adequately chewing or digesting food. When chewing food, enzymes from saliva mix with food to begin the digestion process.
Why are teeth lost?
Teeth lost because of advanced periodontal disease in older persons or from dental caries at a young age may result in poor residual alveolar ridge form. Patients who regret having had all of their teeth extracted, and who find this loss very difficult to accept, may prove difficult to treat successfully with conventional dentures. Dental implant-supported fixed complete dentures may be an alternative treatment option, where the psychological benefits may equal the functional benefits. It is also important to find out how the patient has managed with any previous dentures that may have been made. A history of wearing dentures that were previously satisfactory is likely to result in fewer problems than a history of several unsuccessful attempts at wearing dentures. If the previous dentures were successful, then they should be used as a template for replacement.
How many people lose their teeth at 75?
Although more people are retaining increasing numbers of their natural teeth into older ages, approximately 30-40% of persons over the age of 75 years in Western countries are edentulous. The causes and significance of tooth loss vary widely among individuals and cultures, and missing teeth may be replaced by a variety of means for functional, social and psychological reasons, rather than for significant physical health benefits. Therefore, it is essential to determine what the loss of teeth means to patients and what their expectations are for the outcomes following tooth replacement by various methods.
When are fixed prostheses preferred?
When there are compelling reasons for tooth replacement, and when there are no financial or other constraints, then fixed rather than removable prostheses are increasingly preferred by patients. For both partially dentate and edentulous patients, either initial restorative or other pre-prosthetic preparatory treatments are often required before a definitive prosthesis is fabricated for the clinical option chosen in consultation with the patient. The successful outcome of complete dentures in particular is determined by many patient, dentist and dental technician factors. boxed-text
What is a resin bonded partial denture?
A resin-bonded fixed partial denture was cantilevered from the maxillary left central incisor to replace the missing right central incisor
What is monitoring of oral health?
Monitoring is a proactive recorded process, which should not be confused with doing nothing over long periods, as with instances of active periodontal disease and tooth erosion. Basic dental treatments are usually required before the subsequent provision of a prosthesis. In many instances, initial preparatory treatments may be quite extensive and require a period of monitoring after their completion before any prosthesis is fabricated.
Do abutment teeth survive?
The survival rates of vital abutment teeth are usually higher than those for non-vital endodontically treated abutment teeth, for long-span fixed prostheses in particular. The survival rates of long-span fixed partial dentures also are usually lower than those for short-span prostheses. A meta-analysis of six studies of fixed partial dentures inserted on teeth with severely reduced but healthy periodontal tissue support yielded survivals of 93% after ten years, which compared favourably with similar prostheses placed on non-periodontally compromised tooth abutments.
What causes a tooth to be reddened?
Apart from increased dental caries that typically involves the cervical and cusp tip/incisal edge regions and exposed roots of the teeth, severe hyposalivation also may result in: Dry, reddened painful oral mucosa and cracked lips, angular cheilitis, atrophy of the tongue's filiform papillae and gingivitis.
How many implants are needed for a lower jaw arch?
The number of implants needed per arch to complete this rehabilitation is different for each patient, but traditionally 4-8 implants are needed in the upper jaw (as bone is less dense) and 4-6 in the lower jaw to support this type of restoration.
What is the crown of a tooth?
The crown of the tooth is the part that is visible in the mouth. The tooth root, or roots, anchor the tooth into the jawbone. In health, this root is visible only on dental x-rays. When a tooth is lost, it is necessary to replace both the tooth crown and root. A dental implant is a replacement for the root component of a tooth.
How many implants are needed for a bridge?
A bridge is attached to two or more implants. The number of implants required to replace several missing teeth depends on many factors, including the quantity and quality of existing bone, your bite, and other anatomical factors.
Do implants help with chewing?
However, when supported by implants, your chewing ability will improve exponentially. Complete lower dentures are typically fabricated for aesthetics more than function, but the addition of implants will help support and stabilize your denture, dramatically improving your chewing ability and comfort.
Can implants be used to replace teeth?
Replacing all teeth with an implant-supported removable denture. If all of your upper or lower te eth are missing, the use of dental implants to stabilize your upper or lower denture will help improve your chewing ability and quite honestly, your quality of life.
Do you need to grow back bone before implant placement?
In some cases, it may be necessary to “grow back” missing bone or gum tissue prior to placement of your dental implant to obtain both an ideal aesthetic and functional result.
Do dental implants shrink bone?
Additionally, dental implants will prevent your bone from continuing to shrink, extending the lifetime of your denture. When teeth are replaced with conventional dentures rather than dental implants, a natural attrition of the jawbone occurs.
What happens if you do nothing with a tooth?
Another drawback of doing nothing is that you will no longer be able to stress the jaw bone at the location of the missing tooth. This results in an increased risk of losing bone density at that site. Depending on what tooth is missing, doing nothing can compromise one’s ability to effectively use that side of the mouth for chewing.
Why chew on teeth?
Chewing on teeth anchored in and around the jaw provides the optimal way to stress and exercise the density of the jaw bones. You will see as we walk through the options below how our ability to stress the jaw bone changes with the various choices one has if they have teeth missing.
How much does it cost to get implants?
Another obvious downside to implants is the cost. The average cost per tooth is 4K to 6K.
What is the first option we see?
The first option we see is to do nothing. As Robert Gammal (one of the experts we interviewed in the HealThy Mouth World Summit) put it so eloquently in his Aussie accent, “There’s nothing wrong with going ‘gappy’.”
How to maintain bone density as you age?
So, the simple movement of a body weight squat to stress the long bones of the legs is an excellent exercise to maintain bone density as we age. This principle of ‘use it or lose it’ is also directly applicable to the jaw bone. If we do not stress the jaw bone, the density of the jaw can diminish.
What happens if you don't use your muscles?
If we do not use our muscles, they will deteriorate.
Where is the post placed on a tooth?
With an implant, the dental specialist places a post (most commonly titanium) into the jawbone at the site of the missing tooth. After they determine that the post ‘was accepted’ by the body, then a crown is placed on the post.
What is removable partial denture?
A removable partial denture consists of replacement teeth for a small section of missing teeth and look and function as normal.
Why are teeth important?
Teeth are important. A healthy set of teeth not only helps you show off a fantastic smile, but it also helps you maintain good overall health. The absence of a tooth or multiple teeth can make common tasks such as chewing and speaking much more difficult.
How long do dental implants last?
That said, dental implants provide the look and feel of natural teeth and can last for years, if not decades, without needing to be repaired or replaced. However, since a dental implant requires surgery and typically cost more than bridges or dentures, they aren’t right for everyone.
What is a dental implant?
A dental implant is a surgical procedure in which a replacement tooth root is placed and fused with the jawbone.
Do fixed bridges need to be removed?
Once the bridge is in place, however, a fixed dental bridge looks, feels and functions like natural teeth, does not require removal for cleaning and is typically much more cost effective than a dental tooth implant.
Can you replace missing teeth with a professional?
All five options presented are reliable and work well for replacing missing teeth, but discussing the options with a professional is the only way to ensure you get the specific treatment you need.
Is a resin-retained bridge better than a fixed bridge?
A resin-retained bridge is often much less invasive than a fixed bridge. While a fixed bridge is best for teeth that are relied upon for chewing, a resin-retained bridge can be a good alternative for missing front teeth, which typically don’t endure as much pressure.
