Do Nothing:

  • Sometimes the right decision is not to replace a missing tooth.
    • A back molar with difficult access
    • Wisdom teeth
    • When the patient has medical or financial concerns

Removable Appliances:

  • A cast partial denture is an appliance that combines a metal framework with acrylic denture teeth to replace missing teeth.
    • The metal framework clips onto the remaining teeth for retention.
  • An acrylic partial denture or flipper partial does not have a metal framework
    • They are most often used as a temporary measure.
  • A complete denture is entirely acrylic and rests on the gum tissue for support.
    • The retention for a complete denture comes from the shape of the residual bony ridge.

Fixed Bridges:

  • A fixed bridge requires teeth on either side of the space.
  • The neighbouring teeth are prepared for crowns and then the bridge is fabricated to join the crowns together with a solid tooth in the middle and it is cemented into place.
  • Fixed bridges used to be the only option for a fixed solution to replace missing teeth before the introduction of implants.
  • Fixed bridges can look very esthetic.

Implant Supported Restorations:

  • Implants are artificial titanium roots that are implanted into the jaw bone.
  • Implants can be used to support:
    • single crowns
    • bridges
    • partial dentures
    • fixed dentures
    • removable dentures
  • Advantages of implants are that they do not decay, fracture or become sensitive like natural teeth.
  • Another major advantage is that the adjacent teeth are not compromised with a dental implant as is the case with both partial dentures and fixed bridges.