A single missing tooth can make it hard to chew, and, depending on where they are in your mouth, it can be a source of embarrassment. People with missing teeth will often avoid smiling and even talking when they are in public. If you have a single missing tooth that is bothering you, call your friendly Frisco, TX dentist. Frisco Dental Associates can help you get the confidence that a great smile inspires.

What Treatment Options Are Available for a Single Missing Tooth?

Tooth loss can occur for a variety of reasons. Some of those reasons include genetics, decay, and facial trauma. There are solutions, however, to fix your tooth loss. Below are some viable solutions to fill that gap.

Temporary Tooth Replacement

This solution is usually a temporary one for when a person is waiting to get an implant, or they have obtained the implant and are waiting to replace the crown or tooth. A temporary replacement or flipper can be a longer-term solution, but you can remove it while eating and sleeping, similar to a retainer.

This option will be one of the least expensive solutions available to you, and it will take care of the aesthetic problem of missing a tooth in most situations. However, you should be aware that temporary replacements and flippers are easy to break. They can also cause changes in your speech due to their size and location in your mouth.

Resin-Bonded Bridges

This type of bridge is common for replacing front teeth when people do not want the full implant. The teeth that the bridge attaches to need to be healthy and strong. The bridge consists of a tooth structure matching your original teeth and bonds to the back of adjacent teeth by resin.
Resin-bonded bridges can last around ten years. You do need to be very careful about tartar and plaque buildup under the resin bonding. It has the potential to damage the bonded teeth in a short amount of time.

Removable Partial Denture

This is similar to the flipper but a bit more permanent. Your dentist will usually attach this type of denture. The trick with these dentures is to be sure they are clean at all times. If you choose this solution, you will need to refrain from eating very crunchy and sticky things.

Since the dentist secures this denture, you will be able to eat with it in place. There is no running to the bathroom during a meal to remove it and put it back in. These dentures can be bulky and cause speech impediments, though. They may also be fragile and break easily. Talk to your dentist if you tend to grind or clench your teeth.

Fixed Bridge

A fixed bridge is similar to the resin-bound bridge. These bridges are usually used on molars that are missing. The teeth surrounding the molar will be reduced in size and capped with dental crowns attached to another bridging tooth. These are known to last about ten years. Again, this is another situation where you are putting surrounding teeth at a higher risk of decay. You also want to stay away from overly sticky food items with both of the bridges.

Dental Implants

This treatment is the longest-lasting option for a single missing tooth, where the implant acts as a replacement tooth. In this case, the implant prevents long term bone loss due to a missing tooth.
The implant option will not damage the surrounding teeth. You can eat whatever you like, but you should let your dentist know if you have a teeth-clenching problem or bruxism. These issues will not stop you from getting an implant, but you may want to get a nightguard or work on reducing stress to prevent the activity from damaging your implant.

Seek Treatment at Frisco Dental

In addition to the services mentioned above, we also offer:

  • Dental bonding
  • Dentures
  • Teeth whitening services
  • Restorative dentistry services

If you need a single missing tooth implant in Frisco, TX, give Frisco Dental Associates a call today at 972.335.2201. We’ll fill the gap in your smile!