False Teeth Options

Owing to advances in the medical field, and easy access of medical services to people, the average lifespan has gradually improved. However, human teeth rarely last for a lifetime. As a result, people have to seek several artificial options for replacing them.

Apart from geriatric dental loss, people also seek options for false teeth due to several other reasons such as injury or trauma, dental diseases, etc. These days, they are made to fit into your mouth just as the natural ones would. Besides, the color, shape, and size are customized to match your own pearly whites so that you get a more natural appearance.

Your dentist will discuss the various options with you, depending upon the number of missing teeth, your age, and general dental health. He may also explain the pros and cons of the false teeth alternative that you are particularly going to opt for.

Besides, he may also recommend some dos and don'ts, while living with these brand new pearly whites. So, in case you plan on getting them, here are some of the choices that you are likely to encounter.

If you have substantial missing teeth in either or both jaws, then this is the option that you will inevitably have to choose. Full dentures are a complete set of teeth for upper and lower jaw. If you only need replacement for one jaw, you can go for a single plate, while those with teeth loss in both jaws cannot do without a double plate set.

Dentures are made of plastic or acrylic teeth with a plate of the same material or metal. Upper dentures cover the roof of mouth (palate) and fit more snugly. The reason is, a thin layer of saliva is formed between the plate and palate, which provides the required suction to keep the plate in place. 

Full dentures for lower jaw are more difficult to fit, as no such suction is created to keep them in place. Besides, the lower jaw moves a lot while talking or eating, which makes the plate even more challenging to stick on.

Full dentures do not feel like your natural teeth, and may cause a fair amount of discomfort while talking and eating. Besides, you may find it difficult to enjoy the flavor of food, as your whole palate is covered by the plate.

Sores, pain, etc., are some other problems that originate from the use of full dentures. They may cost you anywhere between $600-$10,000 for a single plate, depending upon the quality of material you opt for.

Partial dentures are a variation of full dentures. They consist of a metal, plastic, or an acrylic plate with only a few false teeth. These fit perfectly into the gaps created by missing teeth. Thus, this is a good alternative in case you only have a few missing ones on either jaw.

Partial dentures are easier to remove and put on. They are also considered as a temporary option when the person is undergoing a treatment for implants. As implants take quite some time to get installed, you can use partial dentures to fill in the gaps in your mouth.

Partial dentures need two healthy teeth on either side of the gap, where the plate can be snapped on. However, this may create a problem for the natural, healthy teeth. Their prices start from $300 and may go up to $5,000. The prices are mostly dependent upon the number of missing teeth, and the material you opt for. 

A dental bridge is a popular choice for those who only have a couple of missing teeth. It is common to have a three or a four unit dental bridge. In a three unit dental bridge, you have one false tooth supported by two crowns, whereas a four unit dental bridge consists of two false teeth and two crowns.

The structure of a dental bridge is such that the false teeth fit in place of the missing ones, while the two crowns sit on the adjoining natural teeth. This creates a perfect support, and anchorage for the false teeth.

The adjoining natural teeth need to be specially prepared for the bridge so that the crown fits perfectly onto them. One of the dental bridge cons include, loosening of the bridge after some time.

Crowns are only caps which sit upon your natural teeth. They are usually opted for in case of substantial chipping of a natural tooth. As in this case, the root of the tooth is undamaged, you only need a superficial treatment to improve your appearance.

A crown may cost you anywhere between $600-$2000 depending upon the extent of chipping, the location of your dental clinic, and several other external factors.

Dental implants are considered as a near permanent solution to missing teeth. They come with a metal anchor to which an artificial tooth is attached. The anchor is screwed in your jawbone, where it fuses with the bone over time. They may last up to 15 years without any major maintenance issues.

However, the problem with dental implants is that they may not suit everyone. Besides, the process includes a minor surgery which poses the risk of infection. They are a very expensive option of tooth replacement with a price range of $1,500 -$6,000 per tooth.

Some people may not go for any of the mentioned alternatives for missing teeth, and leave the gap as it is. However, this is a wrong approach, as the missing tooth gap affects the other pearly whites as well, causing them to tilt towards the gap, and move away from each other.

Besides, it may also affect the way you look by causing your facial muscles to sag, more so, if you have multiple teeth missing.

Disclaimer: This is for informative purposes only, and it does not in any way attempt to replace the advice offered by an expert on the subject.