Dental Health Blog – Partial Tooth Replacement – When You Need It
As a tooth replacement therapy, partial tooth replacement is required for the loss of one tooth, or a few teeth. While the Dental Health Blog realizes this may seem obvious, the logistics of partial replacement may be confusing, so it is our goal to offer some clarity here.
When to use a dental bridge
When you lose a single tooth, the most common method of replacement is to install a dental bridge; quite literally inserting a single prosthetic tooth to "bridge the gap" between your surrounding teeth. This can also be done when two or three teeth have been lost, using the surrounding healthy teeth to "anchor" the dental bridge.
In many cases however, it may be necessary to install dental implants to "anchor" your new bridge. For example, your dentist may determine that your surrounding teeth are not stable enough to keep the bridge in place long term, or that the gap is too wide to anchor your new bridge to your surrounding teeth. In either case, one or two anchoring implants may be required to ensure the long-term success of placing a bridge to repair your partial tooth loss.
When you may need a partial denture
Of course, we may also recommend a partial denture to replace more than a few lost teeth. A "partial" as it is often known, may be used if you’ve lost half of your lower teeth or more, for example. This device may be worn using adhesive, as with a full denture, or it can be anchored with dental implants, allowing you to "snap" it into place each day.
Whichever tooth replacement therapy you choose as a solution to partial tooth loss, the care and maintenance of your new dental prosthetics are critical to the long-term success of your treatment. You should continue to brush and floss your teeth every day, including your implant and prosthetic device. Doing so will help to prevent gum disease, the most likely cause of your tooth loss, and which can affect your implants as well.
The doctors and staff at the The Colorado Center for Implants and Prosthetic Dentistry, are your full-service Littleton dental implants specialist and experts in all types of tooth replacement therapy. If you would like more information on your family’s dental needs, make an appointment today.