Restoration methods for missing teeth

  If only 1-2 teeth are missing and there are other teeth before and after the vacancy, several methods of restoration can be used: dental implant, removable denture, bonded bridge, fixed bridge, and double set of the same crown.  Dental implants are surgically placed in the alveolar bone in areas where there are no roots, and then a crown is made on top of the artificial root (usually titanium). The advantage of the implant denture is that it does not destroy the adjacent teeth. Since it is a fixed restoration, it is comfortable, less foreign body sensation, high chewing efficiency, equivalent to about 80% of the function of real teeth, with a retention rate of 98% for 5 years and 95% for 10 years. Disadvantage: The cost is relatively high. It is a very mature technology that has been carried out more outside of developed countries in Europe and America, and has been carried out more in China in the past 10 years. It is also my most recommended treatment method. The cost of each tooth is 6500-15000, and there are certain indications.  A removable denture is a removable denture that is fixed to the surrounding adjacent abutment teeth by a metal hook (called a retainer in technical terms). There are two major advantages of a removable denture: 1) it is relatively inexpensive, and 2) it removes relatively little dental tissue. There are also several disadvantages of removable denture restoration: 1 function is relatively small, the ideal function of removable denture is equivalent to 25% of the function of natural teeth; 2 volume is larger, foreign body feeling is relatively strong, easy to produce malignant, saliva increase, speak unclear, oral space becomes smaller; 3 easy to produce pressure pain, need to go back to the hospital to adjust the buffer, 4 initial wear requires a period of adaptation, daily after meals need to take off and clean, there are micro-motion, chewing efficiency is low, the metal denture is not easy to use. The chewing efficiency is low, the exposed metal ring affects the beauty, and the accumulation of food scale under the base bracket or around the ring without timely cleaning will easily cause the caries of adjacent teeth. Patients who are ready to do the movable denture should also have the psychological preparation of reworking and redoing, especially for the large movable denture, the deformation rate is very high during the process of making, and the cooperation of patients is needed.  Bonded bridge is a fixed restoration that restores the missing tooth area by bonding the bridge to the adjacent teeth on both sides with resin cement. The advantage is that the amount of tooth grinding is small, and because it is a fixed restoration, it is comfortable and does not need to be removed, and other characteristics similar to a regular fixed bridge. The disadvantage is that a certain amount of adjacent teeth still need to be removed, the long-term effect depends on the bonding effect, and there is a possibility of debonding.  Fixed bridges are used to restore the adjacent teeth (called abutment teeth) by grinding them down to the desired shape and then restoring the shape of the adjacent teeth with full crowns (braces) or partial crowns and restoring the missing tooth area with a one-piece cast bridge. Advantages: close to natural tooth shape, comfortable, no daily removal, high chewing efficiency. The disadvantage is that the adjacent teeth are destroyed, the price is higher, and the amount of tissue removed is higher. However, it is an alternative option if the adjacent teeth have residual roots and crowns or if the restoration itself requires a crown.  Double set of crowns Similar to fixed bridges, but double set of crowns can be removed and cleaned if necessary. It is more expensive than fixed bridges, more technically difficult than fixed bridges, more hygienic than fixed bridges, and removes more tissue than fixed bridges. It is ideal if the adjacent teeth have residual roots and crowns or if they themselves require crown restorations.