What Are My Options for Missing Front Teeth?

Posted by AllSmiles

I won’t get into my embarrassing story about how I lost my two front teeth. What are my options for replacing them? I don’t have a regular dentist, so I want to find out the options before seeing a dentist who might try to take advantage of my situation. Thanks, J.S. from Zanesville, OH

J.S.– Your options for replacing the teeth are a partial denture, a dental bridge, or dental implants.

An implant dentist will evaluate your medical and dental history and complete an oral exam and x-rays before recommending treatment. Your front teeth are involved, so you want a dentist with an artistic approach. We suggest finding an experienced implant dentist who is also a creative cosmetic dentist because they will be well-qualified to perform either procedure.

Options for Replacing Missing Front Teeth

Options for replacing missing front teeth include a partial denture, a dental bridge, or an implant.

• Partial denture – It is the least expensive option. A dental lab will embed replacement teeth in a plastic base. The appliance clasps onto adjacent teeth. The clasps will stress your neighboring teeth over time.
• A dental bridge – A series of connected crowns replace your missing teeth. It requires shaving down the tooth on either side of the missing ones to accommodate the crown. The replacement tooth will be suspended between the two crowns. You can get beautiful crowns crafted to look like your natural teeth from a cosmetic dentist.
• Dental implant – This option requires no work on your adjacent teeth. An implant dentist or oral surgeon places implant screws in your jawbone. When the jawbone heals around the implants, your dentist will attach crowns. Implants can withstand biting forces, look natural, and can last 15 years or longer.

We recommend scheduling consultations with two cosmetic dentists to get their recommendations and compare your options. Talk to each dentist about your anxiety and ask about sedation options during your visits. Be sure to have the work completed by a cosmetic with advanced implant training or who partners with an oral surgeon. You will get natural-looking results.

Dr. Thaddeus Michalski, a Rocky Hill, Connecticut dentist and Diplomate of the International Congress of Oral Implantologists, sponsors this post.