Dental Implants, Bridges and Dentures Are The Best Tooth Replacements (for now)

Dental implants, bridges and dentures might become obsolete in time. Recent research has gotten us closer to discovering how to grow our own teeth!

While teeth implants, bridges and dentures are useful, they might not be the only options available for tooth replacement in the future. Researchers in Finland have found a way to pinpoint stem cells that are essential to growing teeth. Don’t get too excited yet – the stem cells they are working with belong to the incisors, or front teeth, of mice and therefore still far removed from actually growing a human tooth. However, this is still an exciting and useful discovery since mice incisors grow continuously throughout their life, and studying this process is likely to lead to information that can be used to grow human teeth. Another important application for this study is growing new dental enamel, especially since enamel wears down over time and is irreplaceable. All speculation aside, here are the options for teeth replacement:

Replace Missing Teeth with Dental Implants

A dental implant is a tooth substitution method that can replace a single tooth or multiple teeth permanently and without harming the surrounding teeth. The tooth implant is actually the artificial “root” that is secured to the bone underneath. Once the implant is secure, the dentist will attach a prosthetic “tooth” or abutment to the implant beneath and this will function as the tooth. Finally a crown is screwed or cemented into the abutment and the tooth implant procedure is complete. The materials used for dental implant procedures are very similar to natural teeth, so teeth implants look like the real things, with the added bonus that they are immune to cavities.

Use a Dental Bridge to Replace a Lost Tooth

Dental bridges are a bit more invasive to the surrounding teeth than dental implants, however they are useful for replacing missing teeth and restoring a complete, natural look to a smile. A dental bridge is applied by utilizing the teeth on either side of the missing tooth gap to secure the artificial tooth between. After the teeth adjacent to the missing tooth have been prepared, a bridge, consisting of crowns for the prepared teeth and a prosthetic tooth for the gap, is crafted to fit the patient’s mouth. The bridge is held within the mouth by fitting the prosthetic tooth within the gap while the crowns on either side fit onto the surrounding teeth, holding the bridge securely. A benefit to using a dental bridge is that it helps to maintain the placement of the surrounding teeth, much like braces.

Dentures can Replace a Full Set of Teeth

Dentures are used if there are no natural remaining teeth left in the mouth, and can replace a full set of missing teeth. While natural teeth, tooth implants and bridges are directly fixed to the jaw or surrounding teeth, dentures rest on top of the gums, requiring them to be sized exactly to the patient’s mouth. Even though dentures are prosthetic teeth and aren’t susceptible to cavities like natural teeth, they still require regular maintenance, since the gums beneath tend to change in shape and shrink as time passes. If a set of dentures starts feeling loose, or there is difficulty with chewing or gums beneath the dentures start feeling sore, it usually is a sign that a refitting is in order.

If You’re Missing a Tooth or Teeth, Contact the Dentist’s Office

Whether you need a tooth implant, a bridge, a new set of dentures or simply a refitting, Dr. Miller has years of experience helping patients choose the best tooth replacement options for their lifestyle. Contact our Dallas, TX dentist office today and set up an appointment that will result in a healthier, happier smile on your face.