How to Replace Missing Teeth

A beautiful, healthy smile is available for all. Do not let missing teeth ruin your confidence or health. Cosmetic dental procedure makes it possible to replace a missing tooth. There are many reasons why people lose teeth: aging, gum disease, accidents or health problems can cause teeth to become loose and fall out. It is important to replace a missing tooth as soon as possible to avoid the rest of the teeth shifting or leaning to fill the space. One tooth leans against another for stability and support. Here are some options to replace missing teeth.

Things You'll Need

• Implant
• Partial
• Bridge
• Denture

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Instructions

• 1

  Replace a single missing tooth with a dental implant.

  Dental implants replace a missing tooth and feel very natural. Implants, if taken care of properly, will last a lifetime. Patients who only need to replace one tooth would benefit from an implant. The estimated cost of implants is between $1,000 and $1,500 per tooth. If more than one tooth were missing, another alternative would be more appropriate.

• 2

  Bridge the Gap.

  A dental bridge replaces several missing teeth in the same area. Bridges are a good option when several teeth need replacing in the front of the mouth. Bridges are stable because they anchor to the teeth on each side of the gap and are fixed. Similar to an implant, they look and feel like your own teeth. The estimated cost for a bridge is between $1,500 and $6,000.

• 3

  Get a partial or full denture.

  Dentures and partial dentures are an option when many teeth need replacing. A partial fits securely in the mouth and has metal hooks that fit around the anchoring teeth to keep them in place. Partials replace top or bottom teeth. Unlike implants or a bridge, a partial is removable.

  A full denture replaces all the teeth. This option is appropriate when the patient needs to have all of his or her teeth removed due to advanced periodontal disease that is destroying the teeth and surrounding tissues. The estimated cost for this procedure is $600 to $1,000 per denture.