We often fail to acknowledge that teeth function as a whole, therefore, missing one can have consequences for our oral and overall health. In reality, all our 32 teeth work together to help us chew, speak and bite properly. When one of them goes missing, we gradually begin to lose oral function and suffer other health problems. Luckily, modern dentistry has developed considerably in recent years and we now have many options to replace missing teeth.
At Wimbledon Dental Care, we use crowns and bridges to replace one or several missing teeth in a row. Our experienced dentists will help you decide which treatment suits your individual needs.
Why you should replace your missing teeth
The most obvious reason to replace missing teeth is aesthetic. Missing teeth can destroy your confidence and stop you smiling and laughing in public. More importantly, missing teeth are responsible for the gradual deterioration of the jawbone and can even lead to further tooth loss, since they allow your healthy teeth to move into the gaps. Finally, teeth play an important role in your diet. With missing teeth, your diet options are very limited and you are unlikely to be able to eat chewy and hard foods such as fruit and vegetables.
Tooth replacement options
If you have a broken, decayed, loose or missing tooth, then crowns are an ideal solution for restoring its function. Crowns essentially fit over the remaining part of the prepared tooth and make it stronger, while at the same time they provide protection against tooth decay. Crowns are usually made of high-quality, tooth-coloured porcelain that looks just like your natural teeth.
Another option you can consider for tooth replacement is a bridge. Traditional bridges are very sturdy, hard-wearing and rest on your neighbouring teeth for support. It consists of a metal bases that’s attached to the teeth and gums, topped by high-quality porcelain crowns that look like your natural teeth. In some cases, your dentist may add a bit of porcelain to the base of the bridge to make it look more natural.
Bridges helps to strengthen the prepared teeth and restore chewing and eating power, because they are permanently fixed to your mouth.