The risk of losing a tooth is more common than you might think. Injuries, illness, and the natural progression of aging are the leading causes of tooth loss. In fact, periodontists estimate that a whopping 69% of adults aged 35 to 44 have lost at least one tooth. By the age of 74, 26% have lost all of their permanent teeth.
One of the best things about living in this day and age is that tooth loss no longer has to be permanent. In fact, it shouldn’t go unaddressed. Aside from its impact on your ability to eat and talk, losing one or more teeth can also affect the jawbone, which alters the shape of your face and appearance.
The good news is, there are various options for replacing missing teeth, ranging in permanence and effectiveness. Dentures, dental bridges, and dental implants are the top treatments that periodontists in Mississauga provide to replace missing teeth and restore your smile.
Are you comparing options for tooth replacement? With the help of our periodontists, let’s look at these three treatments in detail and compare their pros and cons, so you can choose the best one for your needs and lifestyle.
The Basics: Understanding Tooth Replacement Options
Today, there are three main ways to replace missing teeth. However, keep in mind that these options vary in terms of function and longevity. During your consultation, your periodontist in Mississauga will examine your teeth, gums, and jawbone to determine the best option for you.
- Dentures: These artificial teeth sit on top of the gums. Dentures are the least permanent tooth replacement option due to their risk of falling off when your bite adjusts.
- Dental bridges: Bridges rely on your adjacent natural teeth for support. These restorations involve placing a dental crown where the missing tooth is and using the teeth on either side to keep it in place.
- Dental implants: Hailed as complete and permanent tooth replacement systems. The implant itself is placed in the jawbone and fuses with it, essentially replacing the roots. Once healed, your periodontist will attach the artificial tooth to it.
Dentures vs. Dental Bridges vs. Dental Implants: Pros and Cons
While each tooth replacement option has the same goal, they’re designed for various needs, quality of life goals, and budgets. For the longest time, dentures were the go-to treatment for missing teeth, providing a quick and affordable solution. Then came dental bridges which are more sophisticated and pack more strength. Finally, the obvious winner is dental implants, thanks to their ability to completely replace missing teeth, from root to crown.
But this doesn’t automatically mean that there’s only one option worth considering. Your periodontist will assess your tooth replacement needs in detail to recommend the best one for you. They will also explain the advantages and disadvantages of each treatment to help you make the right decision.
Here’s a short guide to the pros and cons of each tooth replacement method.
Dentures
Pros
- Dentures are the most affordable way to replace missing teeth.
- Dentures can now be made to look more natural, so they can match the rest of your smile.
- If you’re missing more than one tooth or an entire arch, dentures can easily replace them in a cost-effective manner.
- Or, if you’re only missing one tooth and still have healthy teeth around it, they can help stabilize the denture and keep it in place.
- They can be made fairly quickly, which reduces the time you spend with missing teeth.
Cons
- Dentures merely sit on top of the gums, so they won’t be as strong and stable as natural teeth.
- As a result, dentures are prone to falling out of the mouth and breaking.
- Since dentures are not as strong as your natural teeth, you will have to keep avoiding tough and sticky foods or it will be very difficult to eat them.
- Dentures are not anchored in the jawbone, which can still lead to loss of bone density and volume and changes to your bite and appearance.
Dental Bridges
Pros
- Dental bridges are relatively easy to place, making tooth replacement a hassle-free experience, without the need for invasive surgery.
- It typically requires only two visits to your periodontist to complete treatment.
- Dental bridges are anchored in place by remaining natural teeth, making them more stable.
- They are also more affordable than dental implants.
Cons
- Dental bridges typically only last five to seven years, although that can go up to ten years if properly cared for.
- Over time, they can look less natural, which makes the tooth restoration more obvious.
- Dental bridges can increase the risk of cavities, tooth decay, and plaque build-up without good oral hygiene habits that cover both the teeth and gums.
- The same mechanism that keeps dental bridges stable—being anchored in place by remaining healthy teeth on either side of the bridge—can also weaken and damage your natural teeth.
Dental Implants
Pros
- Dental implants are the longest-lasting tooth replacement option, often up to decades with proper care, such as good oral health and hygiene habits.
- Even at the 10-year mark, they have a very high success rate, clocking in at around 97%.
- Unlike dental bridges, they don’t damage surrounding healthy natural teeth.
- Dental implants are the only treatment for missing teeth that start in the jawbone, providing a stable foundation for artificial teeth that look, feel, and function like your natural ones.
Cons
- Dental implants are not inexpensive—they’re certainly not the most affordable tooth replacement option due to their complexity.
- The entire process for getting dental implants can take up to several months, during which a series of procedures is performed by your periodontist. It begins with implantation, followed by the jawbone healing around the implant and fusing with it, before the artificial tooth can be attached to it.
- While highly unlikely with proper care and in the hands of an experienced periodontist, dental implants can sometimes fail or result in surgical complications.
Get the Best Tooth Replacement Method with Our Periodontists in Mississauga
Clearly, you have several options for replacing your missing teeth, but according to our periodontists in Mississauga, there’s only one that matters. Periodontal Associates is here to help you make the right choice, so you can get the most effective tooth replacement option and enjoy all its benefits. From making it easier to eat, to improved speech and a restored complete smile, our periodontists in Mississauga will provide all the information you need about dental implants in order to make the best choice for tooth replacement.
Want to hear more from the experts? Book a consultation with our periodontists in Mississauga to learn more about dental implants.
