• prevent problems associated with shifting teeth:
  • increased decay
  • increased potential for periodontal disease
  • increased potential for TMJ disease
  • changing bite causing discomfort
• provide adequate chewing function
• maintain clear speech and phonetics

Treatment Options

1. removable partial denture
2. non-removable bridge
3. implant supported bridge
4. full denture

Factors determining replacement type

• number of remaining natural teeth
• position of remaining natural teeth
• periodontal health of remaining natural teeth
• esthetic demands
• anatomic restrictions on implant placement
• availability of bone for implant support
• number, type, and length of implants
• projected occlusion (bite)

Types of tooth replacements

Non-removable bridgework

This is the most common type of non-removable tooth replacement

 

Advantages

• 30+ year clinical history
• mimics natural teeth
• more comfortable than removable tooth replacements
• excellent cosmetic result
• usually ceramic-fused-to-metal construction

Disadvantages

• requires modification of adjacent natural teeth
• relatively costly
• newer all ceramic, metal-free materials remain untested in long-term clinical usage

Implant supported non-removable bridge

10+ years of clinical use proves the success of dental implants

Advantages

• no natural tooth involvement
• mimics stability and comfort of natural teeth
• excellent cosmetic result
• hygiene procedures like natural teeth
• no caries risk
• no periodontal risk
• readily repairable
• stability similar to natural teeth

Disadvantages

• costly process for multiple teeth
• potential esthetic difficulty
• surgical procedure needed
• potential difficult restoration procedure
• screw looseness
• cementation breakdown
• implant failure
• length of treatment time
  

 

Removable Partial Dentures

Dental implants have essentially eliminated the need for this type of tooth replacement

Advantages

• low cost
• simplicity

Disadvantages

• removable
• not as comfortable as other options
• occassionally cosmetic diffuculties
• movement during chewing
• food impaction under plastic areas
• speech changes
• increased decay risk
• increased periodontal risk
• chewing changes
• may require crowns on natural teeth
• more difficult hygiene measures
• continued bone loss under partial
• covered palate difficult for some

Full Dentures

Dental implants to stabilize your denture can provide added comfort and security.

Advantages

• low cost
• simplicity

Disadvantages

• removable
• not as comfortable as other options
• movement during chewing
• food impaction under plastic areas
• speech changes
• chewing changes
• covered palate difficult for some

Why replace
missing back teeth?