Missing Teeth – What are your options?

Dentures are false teeth made from a natural-looking acrylic material which are custom-made to comfortably fit over the gum of the missing tooth/teeth. These are removable, and are an affordable, non-invasive treatment option for teeth replacement. 

Partial dentures can replace single or several missing teeth, and a complete denture replaces all the upper or/and lower teeth.  

There are two types of dentures: immediate and conventional. 

Immediate Dentures  

An immediate denture is a temporary denture which is made in advance and is placed as soon as a tooth has been extracted. 

Weeks before a tooth is removed, impressions are taken and sent to the laboratory for the false tooth to be made, so that it is ready to be fitted on the day of the tooth extraction. 

These are temporary, and used to cover a gap whilst the patient is waiting for a longer-term solution for their missing tooth. 

Conventional Dentures  

Conventional dentures are made after the gum has healed, allowing for a better and comfortable fitting, and is a longer-term solution. These typically takes 8-12 weeks  

The process: 

1. First you would have a consultation with your dentist to discuss treatment options 
2. Impressions will be taken of your jaw, which are then sent the laboratory  
3. A model of the denture will be made, which will then be fitted during Denture “try ins” appointment with the dentist  
4. A final denture is made and fitted when the patient is happy with the fitting 
5. Adjustments will be made if necessary 

A Maryland bridge is affordable tooth replacement option which acts similarly to a bridge but does not require adjustment to teeth adjacent to the missing tooth. The prosthetic tooth has thin metal “wings” which bonds onto the back of the healthy teeth either side of the missing tooth, bridging the gap. 

The procedure is non-invasive and quick. The Maryland bridge is made in the laboratory, based on impressions taken from the patient and is then fitted in the next appointment by bonding the metal wings to the back othe adjacent teeth.  

 The Process of having a Maryland Bridge 

1) Book a consultation to see the dentist to discuss your options 

2) Impressions will be taken and sent to the laboratory 

3) When the Maryland bridge has been created, this will be fitted by the dentist. 

A dental bridge is a long-term, non-surgical treatment for missing teeth. 

A dental bridge consists of an artificial tooth fixed between two dental crowns which fit over the teeth either side of the missing tooth, whilst the artificial tooth “bridges” the gap of the missing tooth. The material of the crowns is made from a durable, premium material (porcelain or zirconia) which is aesthetic, natural-looking and super durable. 

The process of having a dental bridge: 

1. Book a consultation to discuss your treatment options 
2. During your first appointment, putty impressions will be taken of your jaw and sent to the laboratory for a lab technician to create the bridge 
3. In your second appointment, the adjacent teeth will be adjusted for the bridge to fit over. A temporary bridge will be put in place 
4. In your final appointment, the permanent bridge will be fitted 

This is a long-term solution for missing teeth, providing a much more secure fitting compared to other treatments for missing teeth. Dental implants are titanium rods which are surgically placed into the jaw, replacing the root of the missing tooth. During healing time, the implant and bone fuse together, providing a solid foundation for the crown to be fitted securely the implant (typically three months are the implant placement surgery). 

The Process of having dental implants 

1. You will first have a consultation with the Dental Implant dentist to discuss your options 
2. A CT Scan will be required to assess there is sufficient bone density levels for the implant to be placed. If not, bone graft will be required 
3. Dental implant placement surgery is carried out under localised anaesthetic (either a few weeks after the consultation or a minimum three months after the bone graft).  
4. The dental implant will be left to heal and fuse with the bone for a minimum of three months 
5. Once healing is complete, the dental implant crown, bridge or fixed denture is fitted to the abutment of the implant. 

Single Implants vs. Multiple Implants 

Dental implants can replace one tooth or many teeth. Here are your options. 

Single-tooth implant. If you have one tooth that needs to be replaced, your doctor will do a single-tooth implant, then put in a single replacement tooth or crown. 

Multiple-tooth implant. If you have a few teeth missing, your doctor may do a multiple-tooth implant with custom-made replacement teeth. 

Full-mouth implant. If you don’t have any teeth, your doctor may do a full-mouth dental implant.