An average of 26% of adults over the age of 65 have 8 teeth in total or less. Severe tooth loss can result in the inability to eat certain foods, which can lead to an unhealthy diet. Leaving a missing tooth untreated can also lead to further dental issues and the potential loss of other teeth.
For this reason, it’s imperative you know your options for correcting a missing tooth. Thankfully, there are a few ways you can correct it. Continue reading the guide below for our list of ways to deal with missing teeth!
1. Removable Dentures
If you’re missing all of your teeth, which isn’t uncommon for seniors, then your dentist might suggest full dentures. However, if you’re only missing one or a couple of your teeth, then you can opt for removable partial dentures. The base of the denture is pink and will match the color of your gums to help it blend in.
Attached to the base are replacement teeth. The dentures stay in place with help from your natural teeth. You’ll remove the dentures to clean them, when brushing your natural teeth, and while sleeping.
2. A Dental Implant
Are you only missing one tooth or a few teeth in different areas of your mouth? Maybe you were playing a spot and a single tooth feel out.
If this is the case for you, then dental implants might be the answer you’re looking for. Dental implants are surgically placed into your jaw where the missing tooth is.
A metal post is placed into the jaw bone and a replacement tooth is mounted onto the metal post. This keeps the replacement tooth in place and you can now treat it as one of your natural teeth. This is a permanent option to replace missing tooth and it’s very unlikely that others will notice the difference.
3. An Implant-Supported Bridge
Do you suffer from multiple missing teeth all in one row? Instead of replacing each missing tooth with its own singular dental implant, you can choose to have an implant-supported bridge. When choosing this option, only the two teeth at the ends of the bridge will be secured in place with an implant.
The rest of the replacement teeth are held in place by the supported bridge. An implant-supported bridge is as effective as individual implants without having to spend the time or money receiving multiple dental implants. For these reasons, this could be a great option for you.
Are You Ready to Correct a Missing Tooth?
Dealing with a missing tooth isn’t something anyone wants to go through. This is especially true when you’re still young, enjoying life, and want to eat all those favorite snacks and meals you love. Don’t let a missing tooth stop you from living life.
Use the information given in this guide above to help you determine the best option for you. Then, visit here on a regular basis for more health topics!
