Missing bottom front teeth not only affect your smile but can also increase the risk of other oral health problems. The consequences of tooth loss may seem minor to some people, but they can be severe. The most common problem caused by tooth loss is that it can put you at a higher risk for cavities and periodontal disease. Also, it can affect your overall health by making it difficult to eat, causing digestive problems, and more.
The good news is that there are many ways to treat missing bottom front teeth. For example, partial dentures, bridges, and implants.
Causes of Missing Bottom Front Teeth
There are 4 types of teeth in our mouth: incisors, canines, premolars, and molars. The lower front teeth consist of 4 incisors and 2 canines. Each tooth has a function. Incisors are for biting, and canines are for tearing or ripping. The reasons that make your bottom front teeth missing include:
- Dental caries: bacteria in the mouth decompose food debris and produce acids that destroys the enamel. If left untreated, the caries will progress and may lead to tooth loss.
- Periodontal disease: it is caused by poor oral hygiene and dental plaque. If periodontal disease is left untreated, it may destroy the tooth-supporting tissues, causing tooth loss.
- Trauma: injury from a fall or sports, a blow to the face causing damage, dental surgery, etc.
- Age-related: as you get older, gum tissue shrinks exposing the roots of the teeth increasing your risk for periodontitis, which can lead to tooth loss.
Why Are My Teeth Important?
All your teeth play an important role in eating, chewing, and speaking. Also, they are important for our general health. Healthy and strong teeth contribute to healthy body weight, energy level, self-esteem, confidence, communication skills, and more. Missing bottom front teeth can cause:
- Difficulty biting and tearing foods.
- Affect proper nutrition.
- Reduced ability to speak and smile.
- Lower your self-esteem.
So, you need to visit your dentist to replace missing teeth. On the visit, your dentist will discuss and recommend a suitable treatment option.
Treatment Options for Missing Bottom Front Teeth
There are many types of tooth replacement available, depending on several factors such as the number and position of your missing teeth, the condition of your remaining teeth, and more. The treatment options for missing bottom front teeth include:
Partial Dentures
Partial dentures are an affordable treatment for missing front teeth. They are removable prostheses. Partial dentures are made out of an acrylic base that has metal clasps and false teeth attached to the base. Partial dentures can replace 1 tooth or more.
- Pros of partial dentures: they are affordable, and easy to clean since they can be removed daily.
- Cons of partial dentures: they may be ill-fitting or uncomfortable. Also, you need to remove them daily which can be inconvenient. Partial dentures are not strong enough to withstand certain foods, which can damage your partial denture.
Dental Bridges
This is another common treatment option for missing bottom front teeth. A bottom teeth bridge is composed of two crowns and false teeth in between. These crowns are cemented to adjacent teeth on each side of the gap of missing teeth. These crowns support false teeth that fit in the gap. There are several bridge types in dentistry. Each type has its pros & cons.
- Pros of dental bridges: they are strong and long-lasting, so once they are placed there is no need to remove them. They improve your smile and speech since you have new teeth that can be cleaned and treated like natural teeth.
- Cons of dental bridges: they are more expensive than partial dentures. Also, they require the preparation of adjacent teeth on both sides of the missing bottom front teeth, which may cause damage to them.
Dental Implants
Dental implants are anchored in your jawbone and act as a support for false teeth. They can support a single crown, bridge, or denture. Dental implants are considered the most natural solution for replacing missing bottom front teeth since they look like your own teeth and feel like them.
- Pros of dental implants: they are long-lasting and strong, they can replace your root which gives you a more natural feel. They improve jaw bone since they stimulate the bone to grow around it. Dental implants can last a lifetime with proper care.
- Cons of dental implants: they are more expensive than bridges, and require special care to ensure successful results. The placement of implants requires a surgical procedure. Dental implant treatment is time-consuming because the healing period (osseointegration) may take from 3 to 4 months.
Your dentist can help you decide which treatment option is best for you. So, if you are missing one or more teeth, do not wait any longer for replacing your pulled tooth. Treatments for missing teeth can boost your smile and confidence. Read more about a removable denture or fixed bridge for one missing tooth.
Missing Bottom Front Teeth – Conclusion
Missing bottom front teeth can have a significant impact on your general health and well-being. The treatments for missing teeth range in price depending on which option you choose: bridges are usually cheaper than implants but less natural-looking while dentures offer both affordability and convenience with some drawbacks. Your dental professional will be able to determine what treatment is best for you based on their evaluation of your needs as well as possible risks involved with each type of procedure.
