Single Missing Tooth

Option #1: Partial Denture (Flipper)

Partial dentures are sometimes used to replace missing teeth. They can be fabricated completely out of acrylic or metal frames with acrylic on top. It is a valid short term solution. But because the denture rubs against the gums where the extracted tooth was, even more bone loss occurs over the years - which is why you will need your denture relined. Also, because these prostheses use the adjacent teeth to hold them in place, they loosen the teeth over time, leading to the subsequent loss of even more teeth. The life span of a partial denture is approximately 7 years.

Option #2: Dental Bridge (Fixed Denture)

A bridge is a prosthetic that leverages the two neighbouring teeth to hold itself in place. Because of the aggressive tooth reduction that is needed to support such a prosthesis, more conservative options have been invented. Compromising 2 teeth for the 1 missing tooth doesn't make sense anymore. Life span of a bridge is approximately 12 years.

Option #3: Dental Implant

A dental implant is a titanium root that is positioned beneath your gums. It is the perfect long term solution for a missing tooth or teeth. We can remedy spacing that a bridge or denture would normally fill by mounting replacement teeth to the implanted root form base.

A dental implant is the best long term choice to date that will encourage bone stability, deter bone loss and preserve the adjacent teeth, since we do not need to clasp or drill these teeth. And there is hardly any discomfort at all. Life span of an implant is approximately 25 years or more!