Replacement of Missing Teeth

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A denture is a removable replacement for missing teeth and adjacent tissues. It is made of acrylic resin, sometimes in combination with various metals.

Types of dentures

Complete dentures replace all the teeth, while a partial denture fills in the spaces created by missing teeth and prevents other teeth from changing position. Crowns on your natural teeth may improve the fit of a removable partial denture and they are usually required with attachments. An Overdenture is a removable denture that usually fits over a small number of implants. The process of fabricating a custom denture usually takes about one month and five appointments With a new removable appliance, pronouncing certain words may require practice. Reading out loud and repeating troublesome words will help.

A bridge replaces a missing tooth or teeth. It is called a fixed bridge because it is not removable. A bridge is a structure, supported by teeth on either side of a space. It spans the gap between teeth, just as a bridge spans a river. The steps and procedures of fabricating a bridge or similar to restoring a single tooth for a crown. In fact, simply put, a bridge is a couple of connected crowns. For more information on crowns, see our "Restoration of Teeth" web page.

Implants are anchors into the bone, similar to a screw into wood stud. Implants are usually made from strong bio-compatible metals, such as Titanium. They are stronger than a natural root, and since there is no tooth structure on an implant, it is not prone to decay. Depending how many implants are being placed, a crown or bridge is cemented on top of the implant screw. 

When deciding on how to replace a a single tooth with a fixed appliance. Patients usually consider a bridge or an implant. When teeth on either side of a missing tooth would not benefit from a new crown, then an implant is often the better option.