Losing a tooth affects more than your smile. Your teeth work together for chewing, speaking clearly, and keeping the other teeth in their proper place. The good news is that missing teeth can be replaced. The three main options are a fixed bridge, dentures, and dental implants. Here is how they compare, so you can come to your consultation with good questions.
Why replace a missing tooth?
- Chewing and speech. Teeth help you eat comfortably and make many of the sounds needed to speak clearly.
- Your other teeth. Missing teeth put unusual stress on the gums and surrounding teeth, and gaps raise the risk of gum disease.
- Your appearance. Teeth support your lips and cheeks. Losing back teeth, or all of your teeth, can make the face sag and look older.
- Your jawbone. When teeth are missing, the bone that held them can gradually shrink.
Option 1: A fixed bridge
A dental bridge fills a gap with an artificial tooth (called a pontic) that is attached to the natural teeth on either side. Those neighboring teeth are prepared and covered with crowns, which hold the bridge in place. A fixed bridge is cemented in and can only be removed by a dentist.
- Timeline: usually two or three appointments.
- Materials: porcelain, porcelain bonded to metal, or gold and other alloys.
- Good to know: a bridge relies on the neighboring teeth for support, so those teeth are reshaped, and careful brushing and flossing around the bridge is essential.
Option 2: Dentures
Dentures are removable replacement teeth. Partial dentures replace some teeth; full dentures replace all of the teeth in an upper or lower arch. Types include:
- Conventional dentures, made and placed after any remaining teeth are removed and the tissues have healed, which may take several months.
- Immediate dentures, placed the same day the remaining teeth are removed, so you are never without teeth. They may need to be relined or remade once the jaw heals.
- Overdentures, which fit over a few remaining natural teeth or over implants for added stability.
New dentures can feel awkward or loose for a few weeks while your cheeks and tongue learn to hold them in place, and some minor soreness is common. Follow-up visits let us adjust the fit. Dentures need daily cleaning, and you should still brush your gums, tongue, and the roof of your mouth.
Option 3: Dental implants
Dental implants are small titanium posts placed in the jawbone where teeth are missing. The bone bonds with the titanium, creating a strong foundation for a crown, bridge, or denture that looks, feels, and functions like natural teeth. Because implants act like tooth roots, they also help preserve the jawbone and facial structure.
- Evaluation: a dental and X-ray exam and a review of your health history, with our team or with an oral and maxillofacial surgeon we refer you to.
- Timeline: for most patients, the implant is placed and then left to bond with the bone for three to six months. You can usually wear a temporary replacement during this time. The whole process usually takes six to eight months.
- Good to know: implants don’t rely on the neighboring teeth for support, but they do require surgery and healing time, and not everyone is a candidate.
Comparing the options
| Fixed bridge | Dentures | Implants | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Removable? | No | Yes | No (implant-supported dentures can be designed to snap in and out) |
| Affects neighboring teeth? | Yes, they are crowned | Partials may clasp onto them | No |
| Surgery needed? | No | Only if teeth need to be removed | Yes |
| Typical timeline | 2 to 3 visits | Same day (immediate) to several months (conventional) | About 6 to 8 months |
| Helps preserve jawbone? | No | Not on their own (overdentures over remaining teeth or implants can help) | Yes |
Which option is right for you?
The best choice depends on how many teeth are missing, the health of your remaining teeth, gums, and jawbone, your overall health, and your budget. When someone is missing a tooth and is not a good candidate for implants or a partial denture, a fixed bridge is often the best option. An exam with X-rays lets your dentist explain which options fit your situation.
Ask about your insurance coverage and our financing and payment options when you plan your treatment.
Schedule a consultation
Call our Downers Grove office at (630) 884-8174 or our Aurora office at (630) 884-8194, or request an appointment online.