Can You Get Veneers With Missing Teeth?
Many American adults have had to deal with a missing tooth or may need to deal with a missing tooth in the near future. If you have not had to address replacing a tooth, you may not know what options are available for you. The internet and its blogs may give you plenty of ideas as what is possible so it may not be clear to you what a realistic treatment is.
Are veneers an option to replace missing teeth?
No. Veneers are not replacement teeth, like dental crowns or dentures. Instead, veneers are placed on top of a tooth that is still in your mouth and healthy enough to support a porcelain layer. Veneers are cosmetic and can help change the shape, size, and color of your natural teeth transforming your smile and overall appearance. Veneers are ideal for people who have teeth staining that is not able to be changed with traditional or people who are looking to address a chip or crack. Instead of helping create support or adding structure to your mouth, veneers only work on the surface. While a yellow-stained smile or a small tooth smile may leave you with less self-confidence, a missing tooth in your mouth may leave you even more lacking in that area.
Should I even bother replacing my tooth?
Replacing a missing tooth may feel like a cosmetic procedure, but there are serious and complicated issues that will come from not replacing that tooth. First the remaining teeth will shift and move from their original place. Next the shifted teeth can lead to a misaligned bite. The uneven pressure on unequipped areas on your teeth can cause your teeth enamel to wear and cracks to appear. You may start grinding your teeth in your sleep and leave yourself with tension headaches and temporomandibular joint disorder. Finally, without the root of the missing tooth to stimulate the jaw bone, the bone will start to weaken and lose density. The jaw bone may start to weaken in the surrounding area and you risk losing more teeth. All of these complications will leave you with discomfort and more costs to treat them. You can avoid these additional bills by replacing the missing tooth.
What’s the best treatment for a missing tooth?
There is not one simple answer for everyone looking to replace missing teeth. The most recent advancements with dental implants make it a natural looking and functioning solution for many people. The dentist will need to evaluate your gums, teeth and jawbone as well as your overall health before determining the best treatment option for you. Most missing teeth can be replaced with full dentures, partial dentures, dental bridges, or dental implants.
If the dentist suggests a dental implant, there are different kinds of materials and attachments to consider for your specific needs. The implanted post could be made from titanium or zirconium because they are the most biocompatible to your natural bones. The implant could be made from one solid piece or could be made from a separate post, attachment and dental crown. Other times the dentist can use a dental implant to replace multiple missing teeth at the same time.