Each smile is unique. When replacing a front tooth, you want to feel assured you’re choosing the right prosthetic. In the United States, an estimated 178 million Americans are missing at least one permanent tooth. While no one wants to lose any of their teeth, it can be incredibly frustrating when it’s a front one. They’re front and center on our faces, and they play a significant role in our appearance. Leaving an open gap can be incredibly embarrassing and take a hit to a person’s self-esteem. As such, many patients choose and plan their replacement well-ahead of their tooth extraction appointment. You never want to wait too long for your dental prosthetic, either. What happens if you don't replace an extracted tooth? Here are a few common problems patients face when they keep their tooth sockets unfilled. Jawbone Resorption When teeth are pulled, the alveolar jawbone that had supported them quickly begins shrinking in a process called bone resorption. As more alveolar bone disappears, the remaining teeth around the empty socket start moving out of alignment, and your face starts sagging. New spaces appear between these teeth, and your bite no longer fits as neatly or evenly as it used to. At its worst, some teeth can become uprooted entirely and fall out. Speech Problems Missing teeth also make it hard for you to speak clearly. We depend on the tongue pressing against our teeth, particularly our front ones, to pronounce certain sounds. Many people develop a lisp or a whistling noise when talking after having a tooth pulled. Difficulty Eating Front teeth are essential in allowing us to bite into foods in the first place. The more incisors and canine teeth that you lose, the more challenging mealtimes become. Some patients try to compensate by taking too-large bites, which leads to painful gas and indigestion as food sits in the colon, collecting bacteria. Others choose to stick to soft foods and liquids. However, our digestive system depends on us chewing food to activate it. It also helps produce saliva, which breaks down food and fights against oral bacteria and decay.

Let’s take a look at your tooth replacement options: Dental Implants Dental implants are unique in the dental prosthetic world because they are the only way to stop bone resorption after teeth have been pulled. Bone loss occurs after extraction because the alveolar bone relies on the stimulation provided by the tooth’s root from daily chewing and biting. Teeth implants are the only prosthetic that strive to recreate your entire missing tooth, including the root. They do this using a titanium screw or post embedded directly into the socket where your tooth had been. Once capped with an abutment and dental crown, your natural bite force is wholly restored, preventing bone loss before it has a chance to form. Who is a good candidate for dental implants? Your prosthodontist may highly recommend an implant to replace your missing front tooth if you: Are in good general health Have excellent dental health, particularly no gum disease Have sufficient jawbone mass Have only one or two missing teeth Implants have an incredibly high success rate of 90 to 95% because your periodontist takes the time to ensure that everything goes smoothly. Each of the three components (implant, abutment, and crown) are installed separately, with the required recovery time in-between. In all, the entire procedure can take between six and eight months to complete. This can be extended another four to six months if your dentist recommends a bone graft before we can place the implant screw. How Much Do Dental Implants Cost? One of the main drawbacks of dental implants is their cost. Compared to other alternatives, implants are on the higher end of the price scale. The time, effort, and specialized care needed to install a tooth implant is significantly greater. From start to finish, the process can take up to a year and several visits and surgeries before your new teeth are in great shape. However, once finished, they can last decades to a lifetime. Your precise dental implant cost will depend on your smile’s specific needs. Type of implant Number of teeth replaced Number of visits Whether dental sedation is needed If bone grafting is required Cost of tooth extraction, if applicable Additionally, dental implants are rarely covered by dental insurance. In many cases, the full coverage plans that do only provide part of the dental crown’s cost, not the abutment or titanium implant. As such, standard implants are typically chosen when replacing only one or two teeth at a time. If patients have multiple extracted teeth, we recommend other prosthetic options. Dental Bridge We often recommend a dental bridge for a more affordable option to replace either one or more adjacent missing teeth. This prosthetic uses a combination of a false tooth (pontic) and dental crowns to secure itself to the teeth on either side of your tooth gap. These abutment teeth have a small layer of their surface enamel filed down and resized to fit the bridge's crowns. Once cemented firmly in place, the new tooth can comfortably bridge the gap and restore your smile. On average, a standard dental bridge lasts between 5 and 15 years. Alternative Types of Bridges Traditional three-unit dental bridges are the most popular bridge option due to their versatility and stability. However, when replacing a single missing front tooth, your prosthodontist has several more options at their disposal. Cantilever Bridges A cantilever bridge only uses a single dental crown connected to the pontic to help anchor your fake tooth. This is a great option if you only have one natural tooth next to your tooth gap, but the lack of a second crown makes this bridge more vulnerable to your bite’s pressure. As such, it’s only used for front teeth that don’t experience the same crushing chewing force that molars do. Maryland Bridges If you want to skip the tooth preparation process, then a Maryland dental bridge may be the right choice for you. This prosthetic has no dental crowns to keep it secure, choosing instead to use porcelain or metal wings attached on either side of your pontic. These wings are bonded to the back of your abutment teeth, so be careful not to place too much pressure on them. Implant-Supported Bridges Bridges are also compatible with dental implants. If you're replacing three or more teeth in a row, two implants can be placed in the empty sockets on either side of the gap. Instead of capping them with regular dental crowns, your periodontist can instead attach a traditional bridge's crowns. Like standard teeth implants, implant bridges can prevent post-extraction bone resorption. They also have the added benefit of leaving your natural teeth untouched. Altogether, this bridge can last more than 25 years with excellent care and maintenance. How Much Do Bridges Cost? Like with teeth implants, there is no single cost when it comes to your dental bridge. Instead, there are several variables that a prosthodontist takes into account when planning and pricing your false teeth: Type of bridge Number of teeth replaced Materials used Cost of extraction

Partial Dentures If you're missing any number of teeth less than an entire arch, then we'll need to prepare a partial denture instead. Unlike bridges, partial dentures don't need your extracted teeth to be lined up neatly like ducks in a row. Instead, they can replace any number of teeth along your jaw as long as you have enough healthy teeth remaining to support the prosthetic. With an expert fit, your new teeth will look natural and feel comfortable. They can also stay secure while you talk and eat, even without denture glue. However, as dentures rely on your bite’s precise shape to hold it in place, post-extraction bone loss limits these false teeth’s longevity. Most patients have their dentures for about 5 to 7 years. Do They Make Permanent Dentures? As bone resorption gradually shows itself in your smile, most dentures last an average of five to seven years, even with good care. However, like bridges, dentures can be modified to work with dental implants to help you maintain your jaw as it is. These implant-supported dentures are called permanent dentures because they can extend your false teeth's lives by more than two decades. Of course, the implants themselves can still stay in pristine condition for the rest of your lifetime. What Do Dentures Cost? Your dentures cost depends on these price factors: Type of denture Number of teeth replaced Materials used Cost of extraction If an immediate denture is created No matter which dental prosthetic they choose, patients should feel confident that they can repair their incomplete smile with affordable dentures, implants, and bridges. Our Long Beach dental office offers multiple alternative financing options, both in-house and out, for our patients. If you'd like to schedule an appointment with our prosthodontic team, please call us at (562) 999-3602.