How can My Dentist Replace an Extracted Tooth?

Whether you have recently had a tooth extracted, have had a missing tooth for a while, or just got diagnosed with an extraction – you are likely wondering what can be done to replace the missing tooth. However, several factors must be considered when your Winter Park dentist presents options for you. Some of the key things to consider are the location of the tooth or multiple teeth, the health of the surrounding teeth and bone, the desired cosmetics of the area, the out-of-pocket and insurance costs, and the timing for the patient. As you can see, several considerations exist to find the best fit for the patient. The great news is that with modern dentistry, there are multiple replacement options; usually, at least one is available for each patient.

What are the different ways to replace an extracted tooth?

1. Partial Denture: a removable prosthetic appliance that is custom-made to replace single or multiple missing teeth with artificial teeth. The denture is worn during the day/night but removed for sleep and should be cleaned daily. Partial dentures are the cheaper and faster option, but they are removable and less comfortable.

2. Dental Bridge: essentially, two dental crowns are fabricated with a false tooth between them to fill the missing tooth's space. The crowns on each end of the bridge secure it in place. Dental bridges are permanent, strong, and relatively quick to make, but they can be more expensive and more complicated to keep clean.

3. Dental Implant: a medical-grade titanium post is placed surgically to replace the roots of a tooth, and a dental crown is placed on top of the post to provide a strong, durable, and more comfortable replacement. Dental implants are the most comfortable, aesthetic, and strong but require a longer recovery time and are the most expensive.

What is a good use case for a Partial Denture (a “flipper”)?

A partial denture can be a fast and cost-effective way to replace one or multiple missing teeth when looking to replace a missing tooth. However, it does require that sufficiently healthy teeth remain to serve as 'anchors' for the partial denture. Patients must also keep them clean with daily brushing and removal in the evenings.

There are various types of partial dentures, but essentially, there are repairable partial dentures (typically metal materials) and non-repairable (usually acrylic material) partial dentures. The benefit of a repairable denture is if more teeth must be replaced in the future, it can be done with only a small cost of modifying the device. However, acrylic non-repairable dentures typically have a more natural look and feel with softer edges. Additionally, a range of hybrid options offer a mix of comfort, durability, and natural looks. Ultimately, your local dentist should be consulted to help you make the right decision for your specific situation.

A critical consideration in a partial denture is that all remaining teeth should be healthy and restored. For example, cavities should have fillings, and any broken or unrestorable teeth should be extracted so the partial denture will not cause adverse effects. Additionally, if you recently have or plan to have dental extractions, you must wait approximately six weeks for your mouth to recover and stabilize fully. This wait time ensures the partial denture made for you has the best chance of a perfect fitment. An improperly fitting partial denture can be painful and not provide the level of comfort you need to wear daily. Often, multiple adjustments are needed – and expected. At Ivory Dental, we plan for follow-up appointments for all our partial dentures so that our doctor and staff can make minor adjustments for your comfort.

What makes a good case for a Dental Bridge?

Patients typically choose a dental bridge to cover one or more missing teeth if they are looking for a non-removable “permanent” option that is done relatively fast and without worrying about bone grafting or other procedures required with implants.

An adequately fabricated dental bridge is a permanent, strong dental prosthetic that can replace one or more missing teeth that are adjacent to each other. You can visualize a dental bridge like a road 'bridge' that spans two solid foundations. In this way, a dental bridge should have two teeth to build on.

A bridge can fill a single missing tooth, two adjacent missing teeth, or even three adjacent missing teeth. This determines how 'long' the dental Bridge is and is often referred to as the 'number of units’. For example, spanning one missing tooth is a '3 unit bridge', and spanning three missing teeth would be a '5 unit bridge'.

As a side note, like in architecture, there are other types of bridges – namely, a "cantilever" or a "Maryland" bridge. However, we typically do not recommend these; they are only used for special cases. If you have a unique situation, please call our office or ask your local dentist for an opinion on what is best for you.

Benefits of Dental Bridge

The benefit of a dental bridge is that it is permanently bonded and will be strong, providing a primarily natural look and feel. However, oral hygiene is of utmost importance to maintaining a dental bridge. As the teeth are bonded , there is no way to floss with traditional "up and down" flossing between those teeth; patients have to floss underneath the Bridge using a "floss threader" or other devices like a water flosser. In addition, keeping the teeth and gums under/around a bridge can not be stressed enough; if tooth decay were to deteriorate the healthy teeth, it could cause the Bridge to become loose and need to be replaced.

When considering if a dental bridge is right for you, one thing to note is that a bridge requires the two 'anchor' teeth to have some enamel and tooth structure removed to cement the crowns. Therefore, if those teeth are otherwise healthy (with no existing crowns or fillings) – the dentist will have to remove a portion of healthy teeth to place the Bridge. This can be undesirable for some patients, and your local dentist can advise you of the considerations so you may make the best decision for your situation.

Is a dental implant the best option?

Dental implants represent the newest and typically best feeling when looking for restoration for a missing tooth. However, they come with a longer healing process and require more preparation in terms of clinical analysis (x-rays, diagnostics) and actual preparatory procedures (such as bone grafting or ridge augmentation) to ensure the implant placement is strong.

Here is the essential process for a dental implant; you will notice it requires significantly more dental visits than the other options:

1. Extraction of the tooth – if the problem tooth has not yet been extracted, it is typically best removed by the oral surgeon placing the implant post into the bone. This is so the surgeon can plan and evaluate any necessary procedures or considerations to help speed up or strengthen the implant placement process. For example, at this point, a form of bone graft may be provided to strengthen the site of the implant placement.

2. Placement of the Implant – after selecting an appropriate implant post, the oral surgeon makes a small incision and drills a specifically designed small hole into the jawbone. The Implant is then placed into the bone and allowed to heal/grow strong around the implant placement.

3. Osseointegration – typically a several-month healing time for the surrounding bone to grow and integrate around the Implant. During this time, the oral surgeon will monitor the recovery to confirm that the Implant is securely placed and ready for final crown restoration.

4. Crown restoration – once the oral surgeon has confirmed a successful and healthy implant placement, your local/cosmetic dentist can begin manufacturing the visible portion of the tooth – the 'dental crown.' This consists of two components: 1) the implant abutment, which connects to the implant post in the bone, and 2) the implant crown, which is the replacement tooth custom-made to match your teeth in shape and color

With modern dentistry, your local dentist has several options to help replace a missing tooth. Each has its unique considerations and benefits – and scheduling an appointment for a consultation is the best way to make an informed decision about which is right for you. View dental services in Winter Park.

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