Replacing missing teeth isn’t only about appearance. For many people, being able to bite and chew properly again can make a significant difference to everyday life, including the foods they can eat and how confident they feel around other people. Replacing missing teeth can also help support your oral health in the long term. Here are four reasons to consider your options.
1. Replacing missing teeth can restore your confidence
Missing teeth affect everyone differently. For some people, they can make smiling, speaking or having photographs taken feel uncomfortable. You may also find yourself becoming more aware of your teeth when meeting new people or eating with friends and family.
Over time, that can affect what you feel comfortable doing. You might avoid photos, hold back when you smile or feel more self-conscious when eating around other people.
Replacing missing teeth may help reduce some of that self-consciousness. The aim isn’t to create a ’perfect’ smile – it’s to restore function and help you feel more comfortable speaking, smiling and eating as part of everyday life.
2. Missing teeth can affect your jawbone and remaining teeth
Your teeth do more than help you bite and chew. The roots of your teeth also help stimulate and maintain the bone that surrounds them.
After you lose a tooth, the bone in that area gradually starts to change and can shrink over time. This is known as bone resorption. The teeth next to the gap can also shift into the space over time, which may affect your bite and how your remaining teeth work together.
Dental implants replace the function of tooth roots by placing implants into the jawbone to help maintain the bone around them. The effect on the surrounding bone depends on factors such as your bone and gum health, general health and how well you maintain your teeth and implants over time.
If you have lost several teeth, or your remaining teeth are failing, understanding the condition of your jawbone and the teeth you still have is an important part of deciding what to do next. Your assessment with EvoDental takes all of this into account, so you can be confident that your treatment is tailored to your needs.
3. Replacing missing teeth can make eating and speaking easier
When several teeth are missing, chewing can become harder. You may start avoiding foods that take more effort to bite or chew, which can make your diet feel more limited. Depending on which teeth are missing, you may also notice changes to your speech.
For some people, the effect on eating becomes one of the main reasons to consider treatment. Being able to bite and chew comfortably can make it easier to enjoy a wider range of foods and share meals without constantly thinking about your teeth.
Dentures can help replace missing teeth and are a suitable option for many people. However, because they are removable, some people find they move when eating or speaking. Their fit can also become less secure over time as the gums and jaw naturally change.
If this is affecting you, it may be worth looking at other options. Full mouth dental implants offer a different approach for people who have lost most or all of their teeth, or whose remaining teeth are failing. They support a fixed set of new teeth, helping to restore a functional bite so you can eat more comfortably and get on with everyday life without relying on removable dentures.
4. There are long-term options for replacing missing teeth
Living with gaps or using removable dentures are not the only options. Depending on the condition of your teeth, gums and jawbone, there may be different ways to replace missing teeth.
Broadly, these include dentures, bridges and dental implants. A bridge uses neighbouring teeth for support, while dental implants are placed into the jawbone to support replacement teeth. An implant-supported bridge may also be suitable for some people.
If you’ve lost most or all of your teeth, or your remaining teeth are failing and need replacing, full mouth dental implants may offer a fixed alternative to removable dentures. They’re not a treatment for healthy teeth, and will only be recommended when replacing all the teeth in a jaw is right for your needs.
The right approach depends on the condition of your teeth, gums and jawbone, as well as what you need your replacement teeth to do. A detailed assessment can help establish which treatment options are appropriate for your individual circumstances, rather than taking a one-size-fits-all approach.
What are your options for replacing multiple missing teeth?
If you have several missing teeth, your options may include:
- Removable dentures – a full or partial set of replacement teeth that can be removed for cleaning and at other times as needed
- Implant-supported solutions – dental implants can be used to support a removable denture or fixed replacement teeth, depending on your individual circumstances
- Full mouth dental implants – a fixed set of new teeth supported by carefully planned and positioned implants. This treatment is intended for people whose teeth in one or both jaws are missing or failing and need to be fully replaced
The best approach for you depends on factors including how many teeth are missing, the condition of any remaining teeth, your bone levels and overall oral health.
A full clinical assessment can help establish which of these options could work for you.
Could dental implants be right for you?
If you’ve lost most or all of your teeth, are struggling with failing teeth or find that dentures are limiting what you can eat, it may be worth finding out if full mouth dental implants are a suitable option for you.
EvoDental specialises in full mouth dental implants and has been providing this treatment since 2007. Over that time, our teams have treated thousands of patients, including people with complex clinical needs who had previously been told they weren’t suitable for implants.
A free assessment gives you the chance to understand your current dental health, discuss your suitability, ask questions and receive a clear treatment plan before deciding how you want to proceed.
