IMPORTANCE OF REPLACING A MISSING TOOTH

The most ignored or neglected part of our body is our teeth. Most of us wonder why is it important to replace one missing tooth when there are other remaining teeth. Let’s discuss that in detail of what happens if the missing tooth/teeth are not replaced.

Our teeth are designed to work together to help us chew the food, speak and smile. When tooth/teeth are missing, there is a hindrance to all these actions. Missing tooth if not replaced will lead the adjacent teeth to shift to the empty space and create areas that are difficult to clean which eventually leads to gum problems and tooth decay leading to further tooth loss. It can also lead to excessive wear of these teeth. It can also lead to bite problems, when the upper and lower jaws don’t meet properly it can cause damage to the jaw joint. It can affect your general health, especially if your back teeth are missing, it may be difficult for you to chew certain foods which can lead to malnutrition and recurrent illness.

To avoid all these ill effects, it is very important and essential to replace the missing tooth/teeth to keep you fit and healthy. Advancements in modern dentistry have made it easier to replace a missing tooth using natural looking and functioning prosthetics.

There are different treatment methods to replace missing tooth/teeth which varies from case to case. It is always advisable to visit a dentist and discuss the treatment option that suits you the best.

DENTAL IMPLANTS

For many years the options we had to replace a missing tooth were dentures and bridges. But today with the help of research and advanced technology we have an improved treatment option, the dental implants.           

 

What are Dental Implants?

• Dental implant is an artificial tooth root which resembles the root of a tooth secured into the jawbone through a surgical procedure to replace a missing tooth or teeth. 
• They are generally titanium screws which are bio compatible with the bone.
• Dental implants are used to support the crowns and bridges, dentures. 

Who can get Dental Implants?                   

• Any healthy person who has a missing tooth or teeth is a ideal person for a dental implant.
• There must be enough strong bone to support and hold the implant in position.
• Best candidates for implant will have healthy gums and periodontal tissues.
• However there are certain medical conditions which affect the success rate of dental implants such as diabetes, cancer, gum disease, smoking.  It is very important to let your dentist know about your detailed medical history.

• Prior to the surgery a detailed assessment of the overall bone and gum health is evaluated. A full mouth x-ray is taken to evaluate the shape and dimensions of the bone so as to properly orient the implant.

How is a dental Implant placed? 

• Local anesthesia is given prior to the procedure. An incision is made over the gums at the site where the implant is to be placed. Then the gum flaps are elevated. Dental implants are secured into the bone by drilling into the bone using precision drills with regulated speed. Care is taken to avoid any damage to the vital structures.
•  The amount of time required for the healing is ideally 4-6 months during which the bone is formed around the implant and the implant fuses with the surrounding bone.
•  Bone grafting may be required prior to placing the implant if there is insufficient bone.
•  Once the dental implant bonds with the jawbone, a small connector post called abutment is attached to the implant to hold the new tooth. To fabricate a new tooth, impression of your teeth are made and sent to the dental lab where your new tooth is fabricated and this new tooth or crown is then attached to the abutment.  It is the similar procedure if multiple teeth need to be replaced.

Success of Dental Implant

• Success of dental implant is mainly related to the operative skills, health of bone at the site and patient’s oral hygiene
•  Maintenance is one of the crucial factors for the success of implant. It is important to maintain a proper and healthy oral hygiene by proper brushing and flossing. Visit your dentist regularly to monitor your implant and bone health.

Image courtesy drvincentdolce.com

MISSING TOOTH

Missing tooth is a problem faced mostly among the aged population.

In fact there are many other causes that leads to missing tooth even in young individuals and children too.

Some causes like extractions, fractures, unerupted tooth, etc leads to missing tooth.

Many among us take it for granted that one tooth missing out of 32 doesn’t matter if not replaced.

What happens if the missing tooth is not replaced ?

• person with missing tooth will face problems while eating food.
• Problems in speech especially if front tooth is missing.
• The force exerted by the jaw while eating changes to compensate the missing tooth and is transferred to the existing tooth damaging them.
• The existing tooth may shift from their place resulting in tilted or crooked teeth resulting in tooth decay as crooked/tilted tooth are difficult to clean leading to caries.
• Teeth are the ones that stimulate the jawbone growth. Missing tooth leads to deterioration of bone and shrinkage of gums.
• Jaw pain is the common side effect of missing tooth.
• Multiple missing teeth will lead to jaw shrinkage and there is loss of facial structure. This causes sagging of skin giving an aged appearance of face.

Now we understand the importance of replacing a missing tooth. The days of worries are gone as we have many treatment modes of replacing a missing tooth :

Removable appliance:

This is the most economical method of treatment. Its only advantage is you can replace multiple teeth with this appliance. But it is not as esthetic and stable as a fixed bridge.

Fixed bridge:

A fixed bridge is made by taking the support of teeth on either side of the missing tooth. The teeth on either side of the gap are prepared and impressions of the prepared teeth are taken and sent to lab for fabrication of your crowns. The lab makes a false tooth in between the two crowns and this is a bridge. This is more esthetic, stable and feels like your own tooth in the mouth.

Dental Implant:

Most conventional and stable method of replacing a missing tooth is dental implants that are the latest method of treatment. It is implantation of a titanium screw resembling the root into the jawbone at the missing tooth region and then placement of a crown on top of it. This root like form fuses with the surrounding bone giving a feel of natural tooth. This procedure needs adequate bone support that surrounds the implant and for the patients with systemic diseases like diabetes, heart diseases, pregnancy, mental diseases, dental implants is not the right treatment option as they are more prone to infections and interfere with the healing.

                                Restore your missing tooth to restore your Health.