When you’re missing one or more of your front teeth, you shouldn’t wait to replace them.
Tooth extractions are one of the most common procedures that a dentist performs. In the United States alone, more than 178 million adults are missing at least one permanent tooth. When you’ve had a tooth extracted, especially a front one, it can be a struggle. It not only affects your smile’s looks but its function and well-being. Luckily, a great prosthodontist can restore those missing teeth with replacements that look, feel, and behave naturally.
The Cost Of Missing Teeth
Does a missing tooth need to be replaced? Yes, even if it’s not a visible front tooth, leaving empty gaps in your smile can be disastrous for your dental health and quality of life. Front teeth are necessary for our mouths to pronounce certain sounds correctly, often leading to lisps, slurred speech, and unwanted whistling while talking. And while our front teeth aren’t as strong as back ones, they also play a significant role in allowing us to bite into foods.
However, the biggest drawback of leaving a tooth gap alone is how it affects the rest of your smile’s health. After a tooth is extracted, the area of the jaw where it had been starts shrinking. The alveolar bone has one purpose: to hold a tooth in place. Without the pressure and stimulation a tooth root provides against it, the bone quickly starts to “resorb” into itself.
While some dental prosthetics can stop resorption entirely, all replacement teeth prevent what comes next. Without a false tooth to fill in the gap, nearby teeth will start drifting in the direction of the deepening socket. This changes how your bite fits together, and your face sags. Eventually, bone loss can cause your shifting teeth to become unmoored and fall out.
Does jaw bone grow back? Unfortunately, once alveolar bone resorbs, it can’t come back on its own. You will need a bone graft surgery to replace what’s already disappeared. This treatment involves transplanting new bone, either natural tissue from elsewhere in your jaw or a donor or synthetic material, where the old had been.
Depending on your specific needs, you have several options to choose from when replacing your missing teeth:
Dental Implants
When asked, “What is the best option for replacing missing teeth?” we recommend dental implants. Implants are the only prosthetic that replaces an entire tooth, including the root. As they are surgically inserted into the jaw, they provide the same pressure and stimulation as a natural tooth, stopping the bone resorption process before it can start.
Implants are composed of an implant, an abutment, and a dental crown. The implant is a titanium screw or post embedded directly into the jaw, where it fuses with the bone. The crown is the artificial tooth’s cap, completing the prosthetic’s look and function. The abutment acts as the glue between the implant and crown, keeping the entire implant intact.
With a more robust jaw, implants are the longest-lasting prosthetic option, often staying in pristine condition for 20 to 25 years with excellent dental care and maintenance. The implants themselves can last you your entire life.
How Long Is The Implant Process?
Dental implants aren’t completed in a day. Each piece will need to be placed separately, with adequate healing time in-between surgeries. For example, once the implant is embedded into the jaw, you will need to wait around four to six months until the abutment can be attached to it. Meanwhile, abutments typically require only a handful of weeks for your gums to heal before the crown can be connected, finishing the implant.
Overall, the entire implant process usually takes between six to eight months, from your initial consultation to your final crown fitting. However, if you don’t have enough bone to support the implant, you’ll need a bone graft to replace the missing material. This procedure will set back your timeline by an additional three to six months since the transplanted material will need to integrate with the natural tissues.
Dental Bridges
A dental bridge is a more affordable way to replace anywhere from one or more missing teeth in a row. Traditionally, this prosthetic is made of two dental crowns bookending your replacement teeth. The crowns are attached to your remaining teeth on either side of the gap, letting your new teeth rest in the space in-between. Most dental bridges last between 5 and 15 years.
Your prosthodontist will need to prep the natural abutment teeth by shaving a portion of the outer enamel layer. Once these teeth have been reshaped, the bridge can be fitted in place. Most dental bridges require two appointments. First, the base teeth are prepared, and a temporary prosthetic is attached. After your permanent bridge is ready, you’ll come in for your final fitting.
Types Of Bridges
While traditional dental bridges are the most popular, we can modify them to suit your smile’s specific needs. In fact, some options are available only when replacing front teeth.
Cantilever Bridge
Cantilever bridges use only a single crown to anchor themselves to nearby teeth. Less preparation is required to fit this prosthetic, saving you time and money. However, the lack of a second crown means that they can’t take as much pressure. With this in mind, we only recommend this type of bridge for front teeth, which don’t experience as much chewing force as molars.
Maryland Bridge
Maryland bridges are another front tooth-only option. Forgoing crowns entirely, it instead relies on small wings extending from your false teeth that are bonded to the backs of your supporting neighboring teeth. One great advantage of this bridge is that the abutment teeth are left untouched without requiring preparation. The downside of Marylands is that they’re only as strong as the bonding resin used to keep them in place.
Implant-Supported Bridge
An implant-supported bridge can restore at least three teeth in a row by attaching to two dental implants rather than natural abutment teeth. You can enjoy the best of both worlds as implant bridges have the unique opportunity to prevent bone loss, keeping your jaw healthier. Plus, they don’t require reshaping neighboring teeth. Overall, this bridge is the longest-lived, with patients’ false teeth often staying in great shape for more than 20 years and the implants a lifetime.
Partial Dentures
Partial dentures are also a great option if you need to restore multiple front teeth simultaneously. They can replace as few or as many teeth as necessary as long as there are enough remaining teeth to hold them in place. Dentures’ bases rest directly on your jaw, relying both on its shape and the support of your natural teeth to keep them steady. Some partials have thin wire clasps added to better secure them to your teeth. On average, most dentures last between 5 to 7 years.
However, like bridges, partial dentures can also be modified to fit onto dental implants. While many implant-supported dentures are still removable, this offers greater stability and longevity. Since dentures rely on your jaw’s natural shape to hold them in place, a healthier, more intact jaw allows your false teeth to last decades longer than normal.
How Much Does It Cost To Replace A Tooth?
For many patients, their treatment’s cost can play a significant role in which prosthetic they choose. There is no set price for dental implants, bridges, or partial dentures. In general, dentures and bridges are usually less costly than implants, which often makes them popular with patients replacing more than one tooth at a time. However, while a tooth implant may be more costly, it’s a great investment for patients who want a healthier smile longer.
How much do dental implants cost? What about a dental bridge or partial denture? Each dental prosthetic has its own set of variables that determines its exact price.
Dental Implant Cost:
Type of implant
Number of teeth
Number of visits
Cost of titanium implant
Cost of abutment
Cost of crown
Cost of extraction, if applicable
Whether sedation is used
If bone grafting is required
Bridge Cost:
Number of teeth
Type of bridge
Materials used
Complexity
Cost of tooth extraction
Dental insurance
Denture Cost:
Number of teeth
Materials used
Cost of tooth extraction
Whether an immediate denture is prepared
Cost of implant supports, if applicable
Dental insurance
While bridges and dentures are usually covered by dental insurance, implants often aren’t. Some full coverage plans include implants, but many only provide part of the dental crown’s cost and not the implant or abutment. At Bellflower Dental Group, we’re determined to always give our patients affordable dentures, bridges, and implants. Besides taking all PPOs and Aetna and Cigna HMO dental plans, we also offer alternative financing.
Are you ready to restore your missing front teeth? Give our dental office a call at (323) 486-6579 today to schedule a consultation with our prosthodontic staff. We look forward to seeing you soon!
