Single tooth dental implants to replace a missing tooth

Some of us are lucky to go our entire lifetime without tooth loss except for our milk teeth replaced by our permanent ones. Others experience tooth loss from young due to genetics or oral injury. Dental avulsion is a common cause of tooth loss where a tooth is knocked out and cannot be saved through emergency dental treatment.

More about single tooth loss

There are other factors that may lead to single tooth loss, such as a dental abscess with re-infection of a particular tooth. Repeat root canal treatment may not succeed and extraction of the tooth may be the healthier option to improve wellbeing and prevent further tooth loss.

Tooth decay and gum disease may be a cause of dental infection. Keeping up with good daily oral hygiene practice, check-ups with the dentist, teeth cleaning with the dental hygienist and receiving dental treatment when needed are critical to preserving existing tooth structure.

Impact of a missing tooth gap

The space left by a missing tooth impacts dental structure and may lead to teeth moving out of their proper positions. An orthodontic condition, such as malocclusion or bite disorder, may arise if a missing tooth gap is not filled with an artificial replacement tooth.

As neighbouring teeth shift to compensate for the tooth loss, teeth may become skew, wear down the enamel of other teeth or irritate gum tissue. A missing tooth gap raises risk of bacterial infection and development of gum disease such as gingivitis. Irritated gum tissue may swell with inflammation and this is a sign of gingivitis, the start of gum disease.

Depending on where the missing tooth gap is located, chewing capability and nutritional intake may be affected that limits food choices and healthy diet. The missing tooth space may affect speech and how words are pronounced. On top of this, when smiling, a missing tooth gap looks unsightly. Trying to alter your smile so that the gap is not noticeable affects confidence.

Rather than suffer with a missing tooth gap, having a replacement tooth inserted in the space is a healthy choice that brightens the smile and enhances self esteem.

Choices in replacing a missing tooth

In these modern times we live in, we have choices in replacing missing teeth with tooth restorations that look just like natural teeth. To replace a single missing tooth, dental crowns or bridges are two options.

A bridge is as the name suggests a dental restoration that bridges the tooth gap by attaching to neighbouring existing teeth on one or either side depending on if the tooth gap is within a dental arch or on the end of a dental arch. ¬¬¬ Existing teeth are prepared possibly with porcelain crowns to which a metal frame or clips attach the artificial tooth.

Bridges are usually fixed and may last between 5 and 10 years. It is important to clean beneath the bridge to prevent development of tooth decay. For greater durability, stability and ease in oral cleaning, bridges or crowns may be supported with dental implants.