Implants
Treatment plan menu
Section 1 - Replacement of one missing tooth
Tooth in non-aesthetic zone: No Treatment
Advantages
- No cost
- No treatment time
- Can have treatment at any time
- No surgery or prosthetic management
- Usually no effect on decay and gum disease rate
- No maintenance required
Disadvantages
- Aesthetics can vary from minor to no problems
- If opposing teeth, there is risk of over-eruption
- Adjacent teeth could move into space
- Bone loss continues to variable extent
Limitations
- Speaking and eating could be affected
- Could affect jaw joint and muscles when eating
Missing tooth in non-aesthetic zone: Fixed Bridge
Advantages
- Predictable results
- Fixed prosthesis worn continuously
- Longevity of prosthesis
- Good tolerance and no effect on taste
- No surgery required
- Functionally a very stable result
- Minimal repair and maintenance required
Disadvantages
- Higher cost
- Aesthetics limited with loss of tissue
- Irreversible procedure as tooth-destructive
- Bone loss continues to variable extent
- Endodontic treatment a potential problem
- Loss of supporting tooth can result in failure
Limitations
- Lower risk of decay and gum disease than a partial denture, but higher risk than implants
Missing tooth in non-aesthetic zone: Resin-bonded Bridge
Advantages
- Medium cost
- Minimal teeth preparation, if any
- Fixed prosthesis, so worn continuously
- Short treatment time
- Good tolerance and no effect on taste
- Reversible procedure
- Conservative treatment with no surgery
- Stability good
Disadvantages
- Weak bonding
- Maintenance costs can be high
- Bone loss continues to variable extent
- Technique
Limitations
- Aesthetics can be limiting
- Lower risk of decay and gum disease than a partial denture, but higher risk than implants
- Good function with limited biting force
- Needs space from opposing teeth
- Regular repair and maintenance required
- Regular assessment required
Missing tooth in aesthetic zone: Implant Supported Crown
Advantages
- Excellent function and aesthetics
- Predictable results
- Crown only supported by implants
- Adjacent teeth not affected
- Bone loss stabilised around implant
- Reversible as it can be removed
- Longevity of prosthesis
- Does not cause decay and gum disease
- Minimal repair and maintenance required
Disadvantages
- Greater costs
- Surgery required
Limitations
- Some medical conditions affect surgery
- Requires space from adjacent and opposing teeth
- Regular assessment required
Picture (left) of titanium implant post insitu. Finished result (right), conventional cementable crown over an implant post, which is suitable for the restoration of most front and back teeth. Approximate cost £2,385
Picture (left) of ceramic post attached to implants and (right) ceramic crown suitable for areas of high aesthetic demand and a need to provide ultimate aesthetics. Approximate cost £2,585
