Replacement Options for a Missing Front Tooth

If you have a missing front tooth, visit our office to learn more about replacement solutions. We understand how embarrassing it can be to lose a front tooth and we can replace it as quickly as possible.

Replacement solutions

There is more than one way to replace a missing tooth. When the patient first visits our office, we conduct a thorough examination and take X-rays. This will allow us to determine how healthy the surrounding teeth are and how strong the jaw bone is.

This information is critical to have before we can make a recommendation for the replacement solution that will work best for an individual patient. While dentures can pretty much work for everyone, something like a fixed dental bridge or dental implants do not. Here is what you need to know:

Dental bridges

A dental bridge is secured in place using teeth that are adjacent to where the missing tooth was. This means two things. First, there must be teeth available to serve as the anchor for the bridge. If too many teeth are missing or the surrounding teeth are unhealthy, this will not be the right procedure for replacing a missing front tooth.

However, if surrounding teeth are good candidates to support the bridge, this can be a nonsurgical way to permanently replace the missing tooth. Many of our patients prefer this option because it is much more secure than replacing a missing tooth with a removable denture. Since the bridge will look natural, it can also be more aesthetically pleasing.

Dental implants

To replace a missing front tooth with a dental implant, the jaw bone needs to have enough density to support the implanted post. If the tooth has been missing for a while, it is possible that resorption will have occurred and the jaw bone will no longer be strong enough.

In this case, someone who still wishes to have an implant placed will need to have a bone graft completed first. Then, once the jaw bone is strong enough, the implant can successfully be placed and the new tooth secured to it.

Dental implants are one of the most popular ways to replace the tooth because it is the only option that we place through surgical means. This means that it is secure and will behave just like a natural tooth does. Since implants also look like natural teeth, this option is aesthetically pleasing.

Time is of the essence

In our dental office, we encourage patients to schedule an appointment as quickly as possible after losing a tooth. This is important for preventing resorption. The longer that a tooth is missing, the more bone density that the jawbone will lose.

The best way to prevent this is to replace the tooth as soon as possible. Whether this is with a fixed dental bridge or an implant, we are happy to complete the procedure as quickly as possible so that our patients can preserve the health of their jaw bone and have the convenience of a full set of teeth.

Schedule an appointment

To learn more about the services offered in our dental office, call and schedule an appointment.  We will be happy to assist you.