
If you’ve lost one tooth, you may be considering just leaving it unreplaced. This is a common consideration for patients with just one lost tooth, especially if it’s in the back of the mouth and won’t be seen in the smile. Unfortunately, even one missing tooth negatively impacts oral health and function, so it’s actually quite important to replace the tooth as soon as possible. At Crossroads Family Dentistry of Forest, VA, we offer a range of tooth replacement options, to ensure patients have a solution that will meet their needs. On this page, we walk through single tooth replacement options. The best way to learn more about your restoration solutions is to call our dental office in Forest to schedule a tooth replacement consultation.
There are two main options available for our Forest, VA dental patients who need to replace one tooth – fixed bridges and implant supported dental crowns. Both options are effective, but we most often recommend the implant supported dental crown as these restorations closely mimic natural tooth structure.
A fixed bridge is a tooth replacement prosthetic that is used to literally bridge the gap in your smile whether you’ve lost one tooth or a few consecutive teeth. The replacement tooth or teeth will be affixed to two dental crowns, one on each side. Then, the crowns are cemented into place over the top of healthy teeth on either side of the gap.
Unlike a fixed bridge, the dental implant supported dental crown replaces both the roots and the visible portions of teeth. We begin by placing the dental implant post into the supportive bone and gum tissue. Then, it fuses to the supportive structures, mimicking a natural tooth root. Once the implant is fully fused with the underlying tissues, we will design and place a custom dental crown to replace the visible portion of the lost tooth.
While dental implant supported tooth replacement does take a little longer and require an added financial investment on the front end, many patients are able to keep this natural looking dental restoration for the rest of their lives. Some of the benefits of implant supported tooth replacement include:
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