Multiple Missing Teeth
Discover the options to replacing your missing teeth.
- Option #1: Removable Partial Denture
- Option #2: Dental Bridge
- Option #3: Dental Implant Supported Bridge
- Option #4: Cumulative Cost Of A Dental Implant vs. Bridge Over 30 Years
Option #1: Removable Partial Denture
Partial dentures are sometimes used to replace missing teeth. They can be fabricated completely out of acrylic or metal frames with acrylic on top. It is a valid short term solution. But because the denture rubs against the gums where the extracted tooth was, even more bone loss occurs over the years - which is why you will need your denture relined. Also, because these prostheses use the adjacent teeth to hold them in place, they loosen the teeth over time, leading to the subsequent loss of even more teeth. The life span of a partial denture is approximately 7 years.
Option #2: Dental Bridge
A bridge is a prosthetic that leverages the two neighbouring teeth to hold itself in place. Because of the aggressive tooth reduction that is needed to support such a prosthesis, more conservative options have been invented. Compromising 2 or more teeth for the missing teeth doesn't make sense anymore. The life span of a bridge is approximately 12 years.
Option #3: Dental Implant Supported Bridge
An implant supported bridge replaces missing teeth. It is held in place by two or more implants that are anchored in the jawbone. It is the perfect long term solution for missing multiple teeth. We can remedy spacing that a bridge or denture would normally fill by mounting replacement teeth to the implanted root form base. A dental implant is the best long term choice to date that will encourage bone stability, deter bone loss and preserve the adjacent teeth, since we do not need to clasp or drill these teeth. And there is hardly any discomfort at all. Life span of an implant is approximately 25 years or more!
