2 Dental Replacement Options For A Missing Lower Tooth With Poorer Jawbone Health

When you lose a tooth, you should immediately consider dental replacement options that can help boost your self-confidence and your comfort when chewing. Narrowing down the wide field of dental replacement options can come down to the location of the missing tooth and the general health of your jawbone.

If you have a missing lower tooth and poorer jawbone health, there are a few dental replacement options you can undergo that won't require a bone graft procedure.

Fixed Dental Bridge

If you need to watch your budget or want a simple procedure, a fixed dental bridge could be the best option available from your cosmetic dentistry specialist. A dental bridge features one artificial tooth that fills your tooth gap and two dental crowns that flank that tooth as its supports. The crowns are bonded to the natural teeth on either side of the missing tooth so that the artificial tooth can hang in place over the gums.

Pros of a fixed dental bridge include a short treatment time and the ability to reverse or remove the bridge at a later date should you decide on another dental replacement option. The artificial tooth will look natural and feel fairly stable with the crowns as support.

Cons include the fact that the artificial tooth isn't close enough to either the gums or jawbone to stimulate the health and promote growth in those areas. You also need to have two healthy teeth on either side of the missing tooth to qualify.

Subperiosteal Dental Implant

Traditional dental implants involve a metal root embedded into the jawbone, which is held in place after a healing period fuses the bone around the root. Dental implants offer a highly secure, natural-feeling dental replacement option – but those implants are only available if you have healthy bone or can undergo a lengthy bone graft procedure.

An alternative is subperiosteal implants, which have a metal base that sits above the jawbone rather than embedding. The base of the implant essentially hooks over the jawbone ridge so there's a piece on each side of the jawbone. Gum tissue heals in place over the base to hold the implant in place securely.

The subperiosteal implant offers a natural look and a chewing feel that's more natural than a bridge or some dentures but perhaps less natural feeling than a traditional implant. A subperiosteal implant can sit on less than healthy jawbone, but you do still need a certain thickness to your jawbone ridge or the implant won't be steady.

For more information, contact Trussville Dentistry or a similar location.