What are the alternatives are available if my jaw bone is not suitable for dental implants?

Doctor's Answers 1

The other alternatives are to leave it alone, if you have too many teeth you can have braces to close the gap, or to wear a denture -- a fake tooth that you put on for aesthetics and remove at night when you go to sleep, but it’s not very strong because it’s made of plastic.

One other option is to do a bridge -- you shave down the tooth on each side and just add a bridge, very conventional and very safe. That’s something that can be done if the two teeth next to the gap are strong.

A dental implant most of the time is the first choice if you have enough jaw bone. They are really good substitutes for teeth because it’s like a one-for-one replacement.

If you do a bridge, it’s a fantastic idea if you do not have enough jaw bone for some reason and are unable to put an implant in position.

But the problem with doing a bridge is that it affects the two teeth next to it. Sometimes when you cut the two teeth down, they also get traumatised and then you end up having to do root canal treatment.

In the long term, you can cause damage to the two teeth as well so there’s a chance you could lose 3 teeth at once. That’s the disadvantage of doing a bridge, even though it is a really good option.

Similar Questions

Why do different dentists disagree on whether I should have a root canal treatment or an extraction and dental implant?

Dentists choose treatment plans based on many different factors. Some of these factors have nothing to do with clinical data. As a patient, your dentist should go through the different treatment options with you so that you understand the treatment itself, and the long term maintenance required with that selection. Keeping the tooth by performing root canal treatment and a crown may mean that the tooth may still crack further and require extraction at a later date.

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Answered By

Dr Jaclyn Toh

Dentist

What are the alternatives to dental implants that I can consider if my jawbone and gums are not suitable for implants?

Here are some alternatives to implants: Fixed bridges The adjacent tooth/teeth are prepared for crowns. The false tooth is fused to the crowns and suspended over the gap. Bridges are suitable for tooth-bounded spaces (there is at least one suitable tooth at the back end of the space). The tooth/teeth chosen to act as supports (abutments) should be stable. Bridges can be more difficult to clean, especially if a fixed-fixed design is chosen instead of a cantilever.

Photo of Dr Jaclyn Toh

Answered By

Dr Jaclyn Toh

Dentist

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