There are three main ways to replace missing teeth, fixed bridgework, removable dentures and implant restoration.
Fixed bridge work is usually used where there are fewer teeth to replace, or when the missing teeth are only on one side of the mouth. Bridges are usually made of a precious metal base, although smaller ones can be all ceramic.
There are three main ways of replacing missing teeth; fixed bridgework, removable dentures and implant restoration. Replacing lost or missing teeth has substantial benefits for your health and appearance.
A denture is a removable appliance which replaces the natural teeth and provides support for cheeks and lips.
Without this support, sagging facial muscles can make a person appear older and reduce their ability to eat and speak.
A crown is an artificial restoration that fits over the remaining part of a prepared tooth, making it strong and giving it the shape of a natural tooth.
A crown is sometimes known as a ‘cap’. Crowns are an ideal restoration for teeth that have been broken, or have been weakened by decay or a very large filling. They can be made of ceramic, porcelain or gold or a combination of these materials.
Dental decay happens when the enamel and dentine of a tooth become softened by acid attack, producing a cavity (hole).
If the decay is not too serious it is removed and the tooth restored with a white (tooth coloured) filling or alternatively with a silver (amalgam) filling.