Q. Is it necessary to treat teeth loss?
Many people have neglected oral hygiene since their childhood and have to undergo tooth extraction due to tooth decay, periodontal disease or accidents. If you are troubled by the following problems:
~ Teeth loss which affects chewing
~ Displacement and tilting of teeth surrounding the lost teeth
~ Teeth loss which affects speech and appearance
~ Hiding of food debris in gaps between teeth
You can consider the following solutions to teeth loss and discuss with your dentist for consultation and evaluation.
Q. Should I choose implants, dentures or bridges for lost teeth reconstruction?
Different treatments are suitable for different people as oral conditions vary for every individual. Understanding the characteristics of these three will help you choose the most suitable approach.
Removable dentures
Removable dentures are detachable. They are usually custom-made by dentists according to patients’ oral conditions. Metal hooks are used to hook dentures to real teeth as supports to fill up the areas with teeth loss.
Removable dentures are relatively cheap, but there could be a strange feeling in the mouth when they are worn. They also offer relatively weak biting force. If the conditions of the oral cavity change and teeth loss increases, removable dentures may need to be remade.
(Image source: Modern Dental Laboratory)
Dental Bridge
The dentist will grind the real teeth on both sides of the lost teeth and fix the bridge with adhesive. It is suitable for patients with only one or two lost teeth. The treatment offers stronger biting force than removable dentures. The teeth on both sides must be strong enough to withstand the additional biting pressure. Root canal therapy may be required before teeth grinding. However, as the ground real teeth can never return to their pre-operative conditions, if the dentures are not carefully cared for after the surgery, the real teeth on both sides will gradually be damaged. After the surgery, regular follow-up examinations are required, while the patients should also pay attention to their oral hygiene.
(Image source: Modern Dental Laboratory)
Dental Implant/Dental Implantation
The dentist will drill holes in the alveolar bone in a minimally invasive surgery for the placing of bio-inclusive implants. After the wounds have healed and the implants are stabilized, braces will be installed. Implant teeth provide biting force closest to real teeth and will not affect adjacent teeth. However, they are more expensive, require a longer treatment time and have certain requirements on the patient's alveolar bone and physical conditions. 
Simple comparison of the three reconstruction methods:
| Removable denture | Dental bridge | Dental implant | |
| Treatment period | Relatively short, about a month | Relatively short, about a month |
Relatively long, about 3 months to 1 year, depending on the complexity of the surgery |
| Biting force | The worst | Medium | The best |
| Service life | 5-10 years, possibly longer | 5-15 years, possibly longer | Up to 20 years or more |
| Persistence | Detachable | Fixed to adjacent teeth | Implanted in jawbone |
| Cost | Relatively cheap | Relatively expensive | Relatively expensive |
| Appearance | The metal part of the denture may be exposed | The effect is close to real teeth | The effect is close to real teeth |
| Disadvantage | Easily lost or damaged | Adjacent teeth need to be ground | Surgery is involved |
All in all, the interests of patients are the ultimate consideration of all medical treatment. Various reconstruction approaches to teeth loss have their own advantages and disadvantages. Before the treatment, the dentist will provide the most suitable suggestions for teeth supplementation according to your periodontal conditions. Whether it is a dental bridge or dental implant and no matter how expensive they are, dentures are never as good as natural teeth. Thorough oral cleaning and the diligent use of teeth brushes and dental floss are the best strategies for maintaining periodontal health.
