Missing Some Teeth? Options To Consider For a Gleaming Smile

It is very rarely considered a good day when you go for a dental checkup and are told that you need to have one or multiple teeth removed. This will not only have an impact on your smile, especially if those teeth are located near the front of the mouth, but it can also impact your eating habits. Ask anyone who’s got some teeth missing near the front of the mouth how easy it is to eat something like corn on the cob!

However, you don’t need to despair. Even since ancient Egypt, people have found ways to replace missing teeth in the mouth. In 2024, going into 2025, there are more options than ever, allowing you to keep your smile flawless and your oral health in good condition.

So, if you have a missing tooth or teeth in your mouth, you can discuss the following options with your dental team.

Oral Implants

Starting with the most recent, oral implants are a perfect long-term solution to missing teeth.

The oral implant features two parts; the abutment, a screw-like device fitted into the jaw via surgery, which has to fuse with the surrounding bone for the implant to work. Then, there is the prosthetic tooth or teeth that are attached to this device. You will have to undergo a screening process to ensure you are suitable for oral implants, including assessing risk factors such as gum disease, osteoporosis, and diabetes. If you are given the green light, you can expect the fitting of the implant to take place over one 2-hour (or more) session depending on how many are being fitted, and then have to wait between 3 to 6 months for the prosthetic tooth or teeth to be attached.

Just make sure you check the team who are offering the treatment, as it requires specialised training. Northwick Manor Dental offer dental implants, as do many private dental surgeries, so don’t be shy about asking to see the dental team’s qualifications!

This offers a permanent solution to missing teeth and bypasses secondary complications, such as gum sores or wobbling dentures.

Dentures

That is not to throw shade on dentures! They are extremely valuable for older people who may not have the advantage of being able to have oral implants fitted. Dentures work similarly, though, except they are attached to the gum and supported by the bone via adhesive rather than an implant. Your dental team will need to measure your gum tissue and bone to then craft a set of dentures. 

Usually, these come as an upper and lower, but you can also have partial dentures, which can replace four or more teeth that are missing, provided that they are in a row.

Fitted Bridge

If you have between one and four teeth missing in a row, you can opt for a fitted bridge. This will require the nearest healthy natural teeth to have crowns attached to them, which will support the bridge. It works quite similarly to a fitted denture, except there is no need for dental glue as the crown acts as the support.

Take care to ensure that you do not get any dental cavities around the crowns, as this can compromise the effectiveness of the bridge. With correct dental care, a dental bridge can last for over 10 years, making it a semi-permanent solution to missing teeth.

This pediatric dentist in Springfield VA adds that it’s also important to maintain regular dental checkups to monitor the condition of the bridge and surrounding teeth. Your dentist can assess the integrity of the crowns and ensure the bridge remains properly fitted, helping to prevent complications and extend the lifespan of your restoration.