“If some teeth need to be removed how are they replaced?”

Replacing missing teeth is called prosthodontics, they can be replaced with bridges, crowns supported by dental implants or partial dentures.

Maryland bridges

These are small adhesive bridges that are often used to replace individual teeth, especially for patients who are susceptible to gum disease.

How are they made?

We lightly prepare the support tooth to help locate the metal wing of the bridge,  sometimes no tooth preparation is required. Impressions are made and these are sent to our dental laboratory technician Mr Kevin McKeeman, Kent. The porcelain bridge teeth have a lifelike appearance, and the metal ‘wings’ are cemented onto the back of the support teeth to hold them in place.

Advantages: they require minimal tooth preparation and are glued in place supported by the adjacent natural teeth. They last around 5 to 7 years.

Disadvantages: very rarely they can detach, often they can be sandblasted and re-cemented back into place – recycled!

Fixed bridges

The natural teeth either side of a gap are shaped a bit like traffic cones, impressions are made and crowns are made to fit over them. False teeth link the two bridge supporting crowns together. The bridges are often made of gold and tooth coloured porcelain.

Advantages: A popular treatment, firmly fixed to the natural teeth either side of a gap

Disadvantages: They involve more extensive tooth preparation, expensive

Dental implants

Advantages: crowns supported by dental implants are predictable and are long lasting and they often remain independent of natural teeth avoiding tooth preparation

Disadvantages: you need to be cautious placing these in the mouths of patients who are susceptible to periodontal disease, the procedure requires minor oral surgery, expensive

Partial dentures

Advantages: plastic or preferably metal frame dentures can replace multiple missing teeth and are supported by natural teeth. Well-designed partial dentures can have superb aesthetics, may be a bit cheaper.

Disadvantages: they require maintenance, last 3 to 5 years and tend to damage the gum and teeth of the remaining natural teeth.

What if all the teeth need to be removed?

If periodontal disease progresses to the stage where it is no longer possible to save the teeth they can be planned for removal and complete dentures or full dentures fabricated. We endeavour to make this transition as pleasant as possible for any patient who are understandably upset at the prospect of losing their remaining natural teeth.

Complete or full dentures

The good news is that complete dentures can recreate the natural smile and over a short period of time patients can accommodate to the change and speaking and eating becomes second nature once more.

Advantages: well-designed dentures can look very natural and restore an attractive smile and enable the denture wearer to maintain their regular healthy diet

Disadvantages: they move and are simply held in place by the tongue, lips and weak suction

Fixed teeth supported by dental implants

Patients who wear complete dentures can consider having multiple dental implants in the upper and lower jaws. These can be used to support fixed bridge work that is fixed in place and is only removed by the dentist for maintenance.

Advantages: fixed bridgework provides confidence eating and speaking approaching that of the original natural teeth

Disadvantages: this is expensive dental care and involves minor oral surgery

We hope this information helps you make good decisions about your dental care, if you have any further questions please use our contact form or call us on 0151 423 1601