There is no doubt that your own teeth, as nature intended, are the best solution for all functions of the oral cavity – feeding, speaking and smiling etc. Loss of one or more teeth due to caries, treatment failure or trauma is not uncommon. It is recommended that any lost teeth are attended to as soon as possible so as not to cause any side issues.
In places where the tooth has been lost for many years, the jawbone becomes retracted, adjacent teeth become tilted, and teeth in the opposite jaw have no bite on the now vacated space – later on, all these phenomena make the procedure of rectifying missing teeth more difficult. What are the factors which influence the decision to prosthetically resolve such a situation in the oral cavity?
Implants are substitute teeth made from titanium material which are implanted into the jawbone and provide a function and appearance which absolutely mimic natural teeth. After they are implanted, the bone grows around them so that the implant becomes an integral part of the jaw bone and the organism. Because they offer the patient a sense of completeness, and in no way differ in appearance from natural teeth, they are accepted by patients very well and are the main recommendation for replacing one or more missing teeth. However, implants can sometimes be difficult to perform, or even impossible, especially when it a tooth has been lost for a long time, or if there has been pronounced bone retraction or if the adjacent teeth have tilted so much that there is simply not enough room to accommodate the implant.
A bridge is a prosthetic work fixed to the adjacent teeth and is not removed from the oral cavity as is the case with dentures. As its name suggests, it bridges a gap so that the adjacent teeth provide an even bite, and the gap between them is filled by a modelled tooth made of ceramic material that completely mimics the appearance of the missing tooth. The negative side of creating a bridge is the inevitable grinding of teeth, whereby a part of the dental structure, enamel and dentin is removed from healthy teeth. It is also necessary to plan a bridge construction well as, due to its structure, it is not possible to bridge large gaps without overloading the teeth that support it. However, even when there is a strong bone retraction due to a long-standing tooth gap, it is not pose any problems when it comes to constructing the bridge. It also provides a kind of protection for teeth with large fillings, because such teeth with fillings are covered with a solid metal and/or ceramic material that provides them with resistance to the forces involved when chewing and reduces the possibility of them breaking.
In cases where a large number of teeth have been lost, or even if all the teeth are missing, a prosthesis can be made, a prosthetic work which can be removed from the mouth. Fortunately, situations where prostheses move around when eating, speaking or laughing, making their owners feel insecure, are a thing of the past. Today, dentures can be fixed in in position with implants, which is why they provide a greater sense of security and unity with a prosthetic replacement.
To decide on the best solution for multiple tooth loss is not simple and many factors need to be taken into account – good cooperation with your dentist is necessary in order to meet your requirements and expectations according to the situation in your oral cavity.
