Losing a tooth when you’re a child is kind of fun and exciting. As an adult, not so much. Missing teeth can leave you susceptible to gum diseases, compromise the integrity of your smile, and leave you lacking self esteem. The good news is that there are many prosthodontics solutions for missing or damaged teeth, including caps, bridges, crowns, dental implants, and dentures.

Dental Implants

Dental implants are expensive, but they’re often the most comfortable of the tooth replacements options. Your prosthodontics specialist will anchor a titantium root to the jaw bone, to which a crown or cap is affixed. Dental implants feel natural and don’t require involving the surrounding teeth.

Bridges

A bridge is a replacement tooth anchored to the two teeth on either side of the gap. It is essentially three crowns strung together to create a ‘bridge’. The missing tooth is covered by the middle crown, and the two teeth on either side are covered by the crowns on either end. It is permanently bonded and looks very natural.

Caps and Crowns

Unlike bridges, caps and crowns cannot replace missing teeth, but they can provide a covering for damaged or broken teeth. A prosthetic tooth is made, usually out of ceramic, to cover the damaged tooth and provide a natural surface. This prosthodontics solution remedies aesthetic problems as well as fixing any problems with biting. Most dentists providing general dentistry can affix caps, bridges, and crowns.

Partial Dentures

Partial dentures are the only one of the prosthodontics options listed here that are removable. Because of this, they are also the least stable, the least comfortable, and the least helpful when it comes to chewing foods effectively. However, for many people dentures can contribute to remedying a complete smile, as well as prevent other teeth from moving.

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