Why replace a missing tooth? Replacing that missing tooth can prevent a chain reaction of problems that could affect your entire mouth. Teeth need each other for support, and when one or more teeth are lost, the biting forces on the teeth next to the space will change, causing the teeth shift. Because the teeth on the opposite arch no longer have anything to chew against, they may begin to extrude out of the socket. You can eventually end up losing them too. As your bite changes, it gets harder and harder to chew your food. Your jaw joint, called the TMJ, may become damaged. It is also much harder to clean teeth that have shifted. Harmful plaque and tartar collect in new hard-to-reach places created by shifting teeth, causing cavities and the permanent bone loss that comes with gum disease.
As you can see, it is critical that you replace a missing tooth. The choices for a replacement would be a partial denture, a bridge, or an implant. All these choices will support the adjacent teeth and restore stability to your mouth. A partial denture is held in place by metal clips or special attachments. It is removable and may not be as comfortable as the other choices. A bridge is cemented to the teeth next to the space, which holds it in place and provides the needed support. Implants are titanium cylinders that are surgically placed in your jaw to serve as artificial tooth roots. Attaching a replacement tooth to an implant provides the stability and support that the jaw needs with out using the adjacent teeth.
An implant and crown is practically indistinguishable from your natural teeth, and it fits so securely that you will not even notice it when you chew and speak. When we place an implant, it is not necessary for us to alter the structure of the adjacent teeth, so their strength and integrity is maintained. Also, an implant replaces the roots of a missing tooth, which helps to fend off the bone loss that occurs when a tooth is missing. In essence, an implant is the next best thing to your natural tooth.
