While losing your first tooth is considered a developmental milestone as a child, losing a tooth when you are an adult can be a very stressful situation. It does not matter if it happens through medical necessity or an accident because missing teeth can cause you to have low self-esteem and make chewing difficult. Thankfully, you can decide amongst several different methods to fix a missing tooth for good. 

Bridges

A fixed bridge can be described as a denture that has been fused onto your existing teeth for additional stability. Without the healthy teeth surrounding the gap, a dental bridge will not be possible. Bridges work to correct one or several missing teeth next to each other.

Many people decide to get a bridge because it is a cheap solution to fix a missing tooth. The biggest downside is it requires filing down the healthy teeth that surround the gap in order to attach the bridge. The bridge will also fail if the surrounding teeth need to be removed years down the road, or through wear and tear.

Dentures

When people think of dentures, they often envision them as the traditional full set for the upper and lower jaw. Dentures can actually be made to fix individual teeth, and they are referred to as partial dentures. They act like a bridge that can be removed, with artificial teeth that rest on a plastic base that is flesh colored.

Partial dentures do not require surrounding healthy teeth, but they can use them as a base. Without healthy surrounding teeth, the dentures need an adhesive to hold it in place.

Dentures can be even cheaper than a dental bridge, but most people do not like them because they feel like fake teeth. Partial dentures can become loose when wearing them, and still create difficulties that hinder chewing.

Implants

One of the most expensive solutions is a dental implant, which requires a post made out of titanium to be surgically inserted into your jawbone. An implant will function and feel like a real tooth, and does not rely on any surrounding teeth for support.

The long process of having the implant surgically inserted can be off-putting because it can take several months for the jawbone to heal. Once the procedure is complete, the implant could potentially last a lifetime.

If you are still undecided on what method to use you should speak with a professional in cosmetic dental services about your options. They may recommend a specific treatment based on the location of the missing tooth in your mouth.

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