If you are missing a tooth due to an accident, you may have considered going to a dentist to have a false tooth placed where your real tooth was once located. There are several options available in replacing a missing tooth. Here is a run-down of the choices available and some pros and cons of each to help you make a decision as to which route you wish to pursue for your specific situation.

Partial Denture

If you opt to have a partial denture made to fill in the spot where your tooth was once present, you will need to remove the denture to do cleanings and to rest your gums after the false tooth has been used for the day. Partial dentures are made from porcelain and rest on a flesh-colored plastic piece that fits into the gap in your mouth. You may need to use dental adhesive to keep it in place. The downside to having a partial is the risk of it falling out when you eat or speak. The benefit is that there is no surgery involved, making it a pain-free process to have the tooth constructed and placed.

Dental Bridge

If the teeth on both sides of the empty spot are sturdy and unaffected from your accident, you may be a candidate for having a dental bridge placed. This apparatus will look like a small section of three teeth. The outer teeth will fit over your existing teeth and the middle tooth will be centered over the area where the tooth is missing.

This is a permanent solution, as a bridge is adhered to your existing teeth. You will not need to worry about the teeth falling out, but you will be giving up the aesthetics of the existing anchor teeth for false ones being placed over them. These sections are realistic though, and no one will be able to tell you have false teeth mixed in among your real ones. You would care for them similar to your real teeth, only a softer toothbrush and special toothpaste is recommended for the porcelain section to minimize the risk of scratching.

Dental Implant

If you decide to have a dental implant surgically placed, you will have a metal rod protruding from your gum where your tooth was once located. A permanent false tooth will be fused to this rod. You will be able to go about your day without worry that your false tooth will fall out of your mouth and it is almost undetectable as it does not cover your gum in any way. This is a permanent fix to the problem with favorable results after healing from the surgery.

If you lost the tooth due to an accident, the bone underneath is probably still in solid condition, making you a favorable candidate for this surgery. People who lose teeth due to gum disease often cannot take this route as the bone cannot be deteriorated in any way for the procedure to work properly. To find out more, speak with someone like Katz Family Dentistry PC.