Options for One Missing Tooth
A missing tooth can create challenges with smiling, eating, and sometimes even talking. Tooth loss can even make people feel self-conscious about how they look, impacting their private, social, and professional life. By replacing a single missing tooth, you help prevent or limit the risk of shifting teeth, gum disease, abnormal wear, and other bite problems.
Pragma Dental OKC offers single missing tooth replacement in Oklahoma City to help your smile look and function at its best. By understanding the different types of options available, you can feel confident about your smile investment.
OKC Dental Implants
Dental implants are the current best standard for replacing one missing tooth. Every dental implant is independent of other teeth, making it completely non-invasive to your surrounding smile. Today’s designs look and feel just like natural teeth.
Implants can be used to support single, multiple, or full arch teeth replacements. The biocompatible titanium is used to recreate the function of a natural, anatomical tooth root. Once it integrates with your bone, it becomes a permanent part of your smile. From there, Dr. Grace can place a matching porcelain dental crown on top of it, which matches
the teeth on either side.
Fixed Dental Bridges
A dental bridge is one of the more traditional ways to replace one or two missing teeth. It relies on healthy teeth on either side of your missing one. Or in some cases, a pair of dental implants (if you’re missing a few teeth in a row.) The dental bridge process for one missing tooth involves preparing the supporting teeth, similar to getting a crown made, taking an impression, and then installing a lab-designed multi-tooth restoration on top of them. An artificial tooth is suspended over the open space in your mouth, filling in the gap.
Partial Denture or Flippers
These removable replacement teeth can replace one or several teeth at a time. Partial dentures are made of acrylic or metal and have tooth-colored replacement teeth attached on top of them. Flippers are typically acrylic and more for temporary purposes (like if you’re waiting to get a dental implant.) Dr. Grace may recommend these prosthetics if you’re looking for a cost-effective solution to fill in one missing tooth.
Which Single Tooth Replacement Option is Right for Me?
Sometimes it can be difficult to choose the right method for replacing one missing tooth. What might be better for some patients could be different than what’s best for your smile.
Most often Pragma Dental OKC will recommend dental implants be used whenever possible. Implants high success rate, patient satisfaction and positive impact on oral health is hard to match. However, some people might not be suitable for dental implants for one reason or another. We invite you to visit our Oklahoma City dental office to discuss your concerns with our dentist to develop a care plan that fits your goals and lifestyle.