It is great that you've decided to replace your missing teeth. Any missing tooth can affect your quality of life, as well as dental health.
Depending on your dental condition, possible treatment options include:
1) crown on damaged natural tooth - suitable if tooth root is healthy and tooth need not be extracted
2) crown on dental implant - suitable if you are missing one tooth, including the root
3) removable partial denture
Generally for a missing single tooth, if circumstances allow, patients generally opt for a crown on dental implant. This is because of the following reasons:
• dental implant acts like your natural tooth
• it helps to maintain your natural bone and minimise further bone loss on the site of your missing tooth
• provide stability and comfort
• can last a lifetime if taken care with routine oral hygiene habits
A partial denture may be the cheaper treatment option but they do not look as natural or function as well as a crown on dental implant.
This is a brief explanation. As all treatment options have their pros and cons, it is important that your dentist/dental specialist go through them in detail with you.
Best regards,
Dr Ho Kok Sen
