Currently, there are three main ways to restore missing teeth: removable dentures, porcelain bridges, and dental implants. As for which one to choose, let's take a look at their advantages and disadvantages first.
Porcelain bridge restoration mainly involves grinding down the tooth tissue on both sides of the missing tooth and installing several connected crowns to form a bridge-like shape. Therefore, it is also known as fixed bridge restoration.
Advantages: Short restoration time, restored teeth can recover 80% or more of chewing function, and the appearance is realistic.
Disadvantages: This treatment is based on damaging healthy teeth, which is irreversible and destructive. Improper grinding design during restoration can lead to various complications.Removable dentures mainly use remaining teeth as support, grind down a certain amount of tooth tissue, fix the clasp to the teeth, and use the base to enable the dentures to perform chewing functions.
Advantages: Less tooth tissue needs to be ground down, and the price is relatively cheap.
Disadvantages: Removable dentures have a shorter lifespan, usually needing to be replaced every 3-5 years. They need to be removed and cleaned after each meal and before sleeping, which can be inconvenient.
Dental implants, also known as artificial implants, involve implanting titanium metal implants that are compatible with the human body into the alveolar bone of the missing tooth area. And then the dental crown can be installed after the close binding.
Advantages: No need to grind down healthy adjacent teeth. With a separate tooth root, the use and appearance are almost the same as real teeth, stable and realistic.
Disadvantages: If the alveolar bone condition and physical condition are poor, it may take a long time to complete the entire dental implant restoration. People with three highs (high blood pressure, high blood sugar, and high blood lipids) need to stabilize their condition before implanting teeth.
With the development of oral restoration technology, removable denture restoration is now rarely used and is mostly used as a fixed bridge crown. Porcelain bridge restoration, which damages teeth and can lead to loosening of other teeth over time, is not cost-effective. Therefore, dental implants are now the preferred choice for many people with conditions. However, the specific restoration method suitable for each individual should be determined based on their physical condition, economic situation, and missing tooth situation.