Missing teeth can happen to anyone whether since birth or later due to trauma. If this happens the patient will have difficulties maintaining oral health and their quality of life will be impacted.
When it comes to teeth replacement options, this will vary from patient to patient and age is an important factor. Understanding the right treatment choice for your age group will make the replacement much easier and effective. This will ensure long-term and overall well-being.
Solutions For Replacing Missing Teeth At Any Age
People at each age have different dental needs and these needs will be managed in different ways. At Dr. Roland Zhuka’s dental clinic offers our service for each group that might need help with replacing missing or damaged teeth.
These newest advancements that we provide at our clinic have made it so much easier for us to provide teeth replacement options for everyone. Some of the treatments we use are dental bridges, dentures and dental implants. The right treatment will depend on several options such as the age, the oral health condition and lifestyle.
By understanding which are these treatment options and how they fit with your lifestyle and age, patients will be able to make better decisions that will make their life much better and simpler.
In this blog post, we will mention some of the most common tooth replacement techniques, for children, teenagers, adults and seniors. After getting this information you will be able to understand the right treatment for you and what should be considered later on when you get older.
This will not only help you improve your appearance but will also help restore mouth function regardless how old you are.
Tooth Replacement Options For Children (Ages 6-12)
When we are younger our primary teeth will be replaced with permanent teeth. Even though they will fall out on their own, sometimes they will fall before their time has come. If this happens a replacement might be necessary.
This is done in order to prevent the other teeth from shifting and causing changes in the jawbone. This will avoid the need for orthodontic appliances when the permanent teeth erupt.
Tooth Replacement Options
Tooth replacement options are different for children than for adults. When adults miss a tooth they can replace them with dental implants or a dental bridge but this won’t be possible for children since it will impact the other teeth from erupting.
In these cases dentists suggest fixed space maintainers or removable pediatric partial dentures. They will be used to keep the space open until the tooth is ready to erupt. They wont be kept on for a long time.
Tooth Replacement Options For Teenagers (Ages 13-19)
Although teenagers are much more responsible than children, still there is a possibility that they will lose a tooth. When this happens they need to be replaced. Most of the time the cause of tooth loss is injuries that come from sports and accidents.
Replacement options among teenagers are different from those used in children and adults. In adults the most common treatment used in cases of tooth loss is dental implants, but are they the right choice for teenagers?
Since their jaw is fully developed and they have a full set of teeth, they can go through with most dental procedures as adults. However this is not the case for dental implants. Most teenagers are not suitable for this treatment until they reach their mid twenties.
As the teen’s jaw continues to develop it will move down and forward. Since the implants are not natural teeth, when this movement happens they will remain in the same place, interfering with the jaw and the teeth alignment.
In order to avoid this, the teenager can go for similar procedures that don’t interfere with the jaw structure, at least until they reach a certain age. Furthermore we will mention some tips that can help you prepare for the dental implant procedure when the time comes.
Consider Taking Steps To Avoid Bone Loss
In order to be a suitable candidate for dental implants it is important to have a normal jaw bone structure with proper density and volume. In a healthy jaw the cells regenerate every day and every moment due to the chewing action. In cases when the patient loses a tooth or damages it to a certain extent that cannot be repaired.
If this happens the necessary stimulation is lost leading to bone deterioration. This will lead to some gradual bone loss in the jaw area.
Since the implant needs to be implemented into the jaw bone, the dental implant won’t be possible anymore. The right way to deal with this will be to schedule an appointment at Dr. Roland Zhuka’s dental clinic in Albania.
The dentist might recommend bone grafting procedures depending on the extent of the bone loss in the teen. This procedure will take some time and once it has fully healed you will be ready for the dental implants.
Consider Consulting An Orthodontist
In cases when a patient loses a tooth and doesn’t take the proper measures to fix it, it can also lead to orthodontic issues. This is due to the fact that our jaw and teeth tend to move closer together to close the hole created by the missing teeth.
Since the teeth located nearby will shift, the whole teeth alignment of the teenager will be different. Taking your teenager to the dental office will be the right thing to do.
The orthodontist will carefully examine the teen’s jaw and in some cases, they might recommend an orthodontic treatment that will help keep the missing teeth area open for the implant in the future.
Consider A Temporary Solution
Since teenagers won’t be able to get dental implants, considering a temporary solution will be a good idea. This will help maintain the aesthetics of the mouth while also helping the teenager preserve the alignment of their teeth.
Due to this, they won’t need orthodontic treatment in the future and they will be ready for the permanent replacement of their teeth. The best option will be dental implants.
Depending on the position of the lost tooth and your teen’s personality, that could be very important. Until the time comes for a dental implant, two effective short-term treatments for tooth loss are a partial denture or a Maryland bridge that is glued to the back of healthy neighbouring teeth.
Tooth Replacement Options For Young Adults (Ages 20-35)
Having missing teeth doesn’t mean you are not beautiful and you should not feel good about yourself anymore. Dr. Roland Zhuka’s dental clinic in Albania offers all kinds of restorative treatments that will not only improve the aesthetic aspect of your smile but will also restore its functionality.
Furthermore, we will mention some of these treatments that you will find very beneficial:
Single Tooth Dental Implants
If you have a missing tooth, dental implants will be the best way to replace it. They blend seamlessly with the naturality and functionality of your natural teeth and they will also last for a lifetime.
During this procedure the dentist will insert a metal post into the jawbone, while making small incisions in the soft tissues. After giving it some time to heal and blend, the dentist will place the abutment, which is the connecting part of the post and the crown or dental bridge.
Since the dental implant replaces the whole tooth structure including the root, the necessary stimulation will continue meaning you will be able to maintain its density and avoid deterioration. Also, you will be able to speak and chew without damaging the nearby teeth.
All-On-4 Dental Implants
In cases when adults miss several teeth or they are severely decayed and need to be removed, all-on-4 dental implants will be recommended. This will be the best solution in this case.
All-on-4 dental implants will replace multiple teeth at once at the same time. The whole set of teeth will be supported by just four implants that will be placed carefully at certain positions. This will result in long lasting and stable results.
This will be the best way for young adults to replace missing teeth without having to deal with traditional dentures that can fall off. After the procedure, the patient will have a natural set of teeth and look much younger.
Implant Bridges
Another treatment option if the patient is missing several teeth in one row will be implant supported bridges. Unlike traditional bridges they will be implemented into the jawbone and they won’t need the support from the teeth located nearby.
This makes the treatment much suitable and long lasting while also maintaining the health of the surrounding teeth. After the procedure your teeth will look and function as normal.
Implant-Supported Dentures
Implant supported dentures are another treatment that are recommended in cases when an adult has missing teeth. These dentures will be supported by implants which will lead to better stability and durability.
Once the procedure is over you will enjoy a comfortable fit that lets you go about your day worry-free and not feel scared that your dentures will slip while eating or speaking.
Tooth Replacement Options For Middle-Aged Adults (Ages 36-55)
The tooth loss caused for middle aged adults can be due to decay, periodontal disease and injury. At Dr. Roland Zhuka’s dental clinic our dental professionals aim to prioritize both functionality and longevity while also focusing on the aesthetic appearance to be able to make the patients look healthier and younger.
Implant-Supported Bridges
If you are in your 40s or 50s, your dentist might recommend implant-supported bridges. In this case, the implants will serve as anchors, offering the right stability, which will not be possible with traditional bridges. Bridges are more likely to fail than implants.
In cases when the patient is missing several teeth, implant supported bridges will be very effective. Additionally the nearby healthy teeth won’t be affected by the treatment.
Not only will they look and feel great but they will also help the patient maintain the jawbone density and structure.
All-On-4 Dental Implants
Since complete tooth loss is very common in middle aged adults, all-on- 4 dental implants will be an effective way to fix the issue. This procedure will restore a whole arch of missing teeth by placing 4 implants in the jawbone which will support a full arch of teeth.
Placing separate dental implants in the jawbone will be much more expensive and invasive than going for the All-on-4 technique. This will be a great way for resorting missing teeth in middle aged adults who want stable and long lasting results.
Traditional Dental Bridges
In cases when a patient doesn’t feel ready for the dental implant treatment or they are not considered suitable due to different reasons, the dentist will most likely recommend traditional dental bridges.
This procedure will work due to the support provided by the patient’s natural teeth. They are still a great choice for replacing missing or damaged teeth but however dental implants remain the most effective and long lasting.
Partial Dentures
For middle-aged people who still have some healthy natural teeth but have several missing teeth, partial dentures offer another alternative. Unlike implants or bridges, they are detachable and less expensive, although they could eventually need to be replaced or adjusted on a regular basis which will lead to the same or additional costs.
Bone Grafting And Sinus Lifts
Jawbone loss is very common for middle aged adults. If they are considering dental implants, this may be a cause of concern.
If this is the case, the dentist will recommend additional procedures that need to be performed prior to the implantation. These procedures are bone grafting and sinus lifts.
Both these treatments help rebuild the jawbone which will make the dental implant procedure possible. After the treatment the dental implant procedure will be more successful and will offer long time stability.
Tooth Replacement Options For Seniors (Ages 55+)
Seniors are more prone to losing their teeth compared to other aged groups. Also this age group will have a higher risk of dealing with dental emergencies.
In most cases, these emergencies are related to tooth loss causing the need for dental procedures such as dental bridges, dentures and dental implants. Here is a more detailed information about each treatment option:
Dental Bridges
As we mentioned before, dental bridges are recommended in cases when the patient has one or more missing teeth. However this treatment option will only work if there are natural teeth on each side that will help them stay put.
The dental bridges are composed of a prosthetic tooth that is attached by two dental crowns. The remaining teeth on each side of the gap are prepared, and customized crowns will be designed to fit them, giving the prosthetic the needed support.
For seniors who have missing teeth, this option is great since it doesn’t require surgery. However, there are still some side effects. Some of them are:
- A wakening of the nearby teeth for support will lead to damage or decay if not properly maintained.
- Jawbone loss is still possible since the bridges won’t stimulate new bone growth. Eventually, this will lead to bone loss.
Dentures
Dentures are another common treatment used for seniors who have missing teeth. This prosthetic device can even replace a whole set of teeth at the right time. In order to keep it clean it will need to be removed and put in a glass of water every night.
Although this is considered the easiest form for replacing missing teeth there are some side effects. This device wont support bone growth which will eventually lead to bone loft and shifting of the face.
Also you may have difficulties eating and speaking while having dentures on since they are not implanted into the jawbone and can easily slip and break.
Dental Implants
The best way of replacing missing teeth for seniors is dental implants. This treatment provides the right support for the jawbone by replacing the missing root also, which is not possible with any other treatment.
The success rate of this treatment is very high and the results will last for a long time. The dental implant consists of these three parts: the titanium post, the abutment and the prosthetic tooth which in most cases is a crown.
The implant can take some time to fuse with the jawbone in order to offer the necessary strength and durability. This process is known as osseointegration.
Once the implant is placed in the jawbone it will last through all your life, but the prosthetic will wear down and need to be replaced. The whole process will be worth your while after you see the results.