In the past, people with missing teeth had very few replacement options. A bridge or removable dentures and dental appliances were often the only approach. These replacement teeth resembled the same shape and color as your existing teeth. They were held in place by metal or hard plastic clips that fastened onto existing teeth on either side of the existing gap. These dental bridges made eating difficult and required nightly removal for cleaning.
Tooth implants and fixed bridges helped to advance tooth replacement technology and offer more options for replacing missing teeth that were both aesthetically pleasing and functional. Along with partial dentures, people now have three options to explore that could restore a smile.
Reasons for Replacing Missing Teeth
Many people often believe they could manage without their missing teeth however, the absence of a missing tooth can often lead to various health complications
Difficulty chewing from missing molars results in large, partially chewed food, causing digestive problems. They can cause blockages or be painful to pass through your digestive system. Your body is also unable to absorb the nutrients from these unchewed food pieces.
Also, a smile gap might cause nearby teeth to drift and become spaced out. A complete set of teeth helps maintain proper tooth alignment.
Three Options for Missing Teeth
Let’s take a closer look at three of the most common types of tooth replacement so you can decide which works best for your lifestyle.
Dental Implants
Dental implants are an ideal route if you require a fully functional set of teeth. A dental implant has three components: the implant, which acts as a tooth root, is embedded in your jawbone. The abutment is then attached to the top of the implant, connecting it to the crown. Lastly, the crown is the ceramic, natural-looking tooth colored to match the rest of your teeth.
Dental implants can replace a single tooth or several teeth. Full-mouth implants can replace an entire row of teeth with only four or five implants.
Dental Bridges
A dental bridge is a method of providing a missing tooth that uses adjacent teeth for support. These teeth become anchors that support the replacement tooth. The installation of dental bridges requires the teeth on either side of the gap gap to be filed down and covered with crowns. The crowns are attached to the new tooth and create a sturdy dental mechanism that blends into your natural smile.
Partial Dentures
Despite the popularity of either a tooth implant or a dental bridge due to the long=term benefits, partial dentures still have a place in modern dentistry.
A dental implant often takes months to fully complete due to the jawbone healing time needed between implant placement and crown installation. If the implant forms a part of the front teeth, then the subsequent results will most certainly help a patient regain confidence.
Partial dentures are often much less expensive than having a dental implant or a dental bridge installed. They also do not require any surgery and can take less than a week to mold and fit. The only drawback is that they easily dislodge, and they are not comfortable to eat with.
Choose Your Type of Tooth Replacement in Bangkok
About Tooth Dental Clinic offers three types of tooth replacement and a full range of dental and orthodontic services, including self-ligating braces and Invisalign aligners.
With have three convenient Bangkok branches on Khaosan Road, Sukhumvit 101/1, and Whizdom 101. Our dental expertise will ensure replacing your missing teeth restores confidence. Contact About Tooth Dental Clinic to schedule an appointment.
Dr. Nisara Tanarerkchai, D.D.S. is a dentist specializing in dental implants, orthodontics, and veneers. She graduated from the Faculty of Dentistry at Thammasat University. With extensive professional experience, she holds multiple certificates in various dental fields, including Advanced General Dentistry, Dental Implants, Advanced Orthodontics, as well as certificates in the Veneer Bootcamp and the Veneer Masterclass. Additionally, she is certified as a Platinum Provider of Invisalign for 2021 and achieved Zenyum Star Tier status in 2023.
Currently, Dr. Thanaruksachai is the founder of About Tooth Dental Clinic, which received the World Class Award 2021 in the category of The Best of International Healthy Business. She is also serves as a member of the Thai Association of Dental Implants (TADI).