I HAVE LOST MY TEETH.
DO I HAVE TO REPLACE THEM?
WHAT HAPPENES IF I DON’T?

The Possible Consequences are:

• Drifting of the adjacent teeth.
• Over-eruption of the opposing teeth for the empty spaces and possible decay.
• Difficulty in eating (indigestion system)
• Loss of youthful appearance
• Loss of lip support
• Difficulty in speaking (especially if you have lost your front teeth)
• Bone loss in areas where teeth used to be. This may lead to change in facial contours which will affect your appearance.

Missing teeth!

What are my options for replacing them?
1. Dentures
2. Fixed Bridges
3. Implant supported crown or bridges

What are dentures?

Dentures are removable appliances with artificial teeth. There are two types:

Partial Dentures-This is if you have lost just part of your teeth, and it comes with visible metal hook wrapped around teeth, surrounding them for better stability.
Complete Dentures- If you have lost all your upper and lower teeth. They are made of wholly plastic and cobalt chromium a form of metal. Its very important to remove your dentures daily for cleaning.


Figure 1: A plastic complete denture replacing all the missing lower teeth


Figure 2: A plastic lower complete denture seated in the mouth

They should not be worn during sleep. They may move during eating, especially when you have fully upper or lower denture and they rest on a smaller surface of the bone. Upper dentures also tend to interfere with your speech and it may take a while to get used with them. Dentures tend to accelerate bone loss which makes denture wearing more uncomfortable in later years.
Dentures may be adjusted and relined periodically also to be replaced every 3-5 years.

Figure 3: A metal cobalt-chromium partial denture replacing only two front teeth.

What are bridges?

Several artificial teeth joined together to replace missing teeth create a bridge. They are usually made of porcelain and gold.
Bridges need to be replaced about every five to ten years due to the wear and leakage.

Figure 4: The teeth are reduced in size (lower left) to provide space for a three-unit bridge (lower right and far left) to be seated over them to replace the single missing tooth in the middle.

Figure 5: The gums have receded and exposed the junction between a ten-year old bridge and the underlying teeth making it unsightly. Leakage has also set in and caused decay.

What are dental implants?

Dental Implants are root like structures made of titanium, a material which our body easily accepts. They come in all shapes and sizes. They can be used to replace one or all teeth in the mouth.

How do dental implants work?

Implants are artificial root which are inserted into the bone to replace the natural root you have lost. A strong bond is formed between the implant and the bone over several weeks or months. The implants provide a stable foundation for crowns, bridges or dentures which are placed over them. Your new teeth are very firm and make eating and chewing very natural and comfortable as your original teeth.

Figure 6: Diagram (right) implant-supported crown and a natural tooth. Such a crown (below) finished.

How many teeth can implants replace?

They can be used in all kind of situations even if you have lost one teeth, several teeth or all the teeth.

They have been scientifically tested and documented for over forty years.

What are the advantages of dental implants therapy?

This advanced treatment that most closely mimics natural teeth in look, feel and function such as speech and chewing, it supports teeth without being able to move, it minimizes bone loss & changes to adjacent healthy teeth, it preserves facial contours and appearances.

Implant treatment typically involves a team comprising

The fabrication of the crown is made by a prosthodontist or a restorative dentist.

An oral surgeon will be the one that is going to place the implant into the bone and a technician is going help in making those beautiful crowns.

The treatment sequence is as follows:

Pre-Treatment evaluation and treatment planning
Implant Placement
Crown Placement
Implant Protection and maintenance

Everybody’s treatment is different; anyhow it depends on many factors including your health, the condition of your underlying bone and remaining teeth, if any.

How long should I wait after extraction to get my teeth replaced by implants?

Ideally implant replacement for teeth should be planned even before tooth extraction! Special care will then be taken for the extraction, with bone preservation method where required. Immediate implantation after extraction may also be possible.

The amount of bone available tends to shrink with time, and the opposing teeth tend to drift into the space left by the extracted tooth.

In general, tooth replacement should be considered as soon as possible after dental extraction.