Implants
Treatment plan menu
Section 2 - Replacement of several missing teeth
For many patients the loss of several teeth prevents them being given the option of a permanently secured replacement.
In most situations, if more than three teeth have been lost the only alternative to implant supported solutions is removable dentures. Currently the use of long bridges provides increasing risk to any supporting teeth and cannot be recommended without very careful consideration.
Missing back teeth: Partial Acrylic Denture
Advantages
- Low cost
- Additions to denture easy
- No tooth preparation
- Acrylic flange easily used to improve contours
- Short treatment time
- Conservative treatment with no surgery
- Minimal repair and maintenance required
Disadvantages
- Should not be worn continuously at night
- Increased risk of decay and gum disease
- Bulky with limited tolerance
- Opposing or adjacent teeth could move into space
- Bone loss continues to variable extent
- Function can be a compromise
- Significantly reduced taste
Limitations
- Stability of denture is variable
- Adequate function but could affect eating
- Aesthetics usually not a requirement
- Regular assessment required
Picture of a partial acrylic denture
Approximate cost from £245
Missing upper back teeth: Partial Metal Denture
Advantages
- Medium Cost
- Minimal tooth preparation, if any
- Reversible procedure
- Usually not a bulky prosthesis
- Acrylic flange easily used to improve contours
- Short treatment time
- Conservative treatment with no surgery
- Minimal repair and maintenance required
Disadvantages
- Should not be worn continuously at night
- Potential problem to add to prosthesis
- Bone loss continues to variable extent
Limitations
- Stability varies from good to acceptable
- Reasonable tolerance and some taste loss
- Lower risk of decay and gum disease compared to partial acrylic denture but higher risk than a bridge
- Variable underfunction when speaking and eating
- Regular assessment required
Approximate cost from £620
Several missing teeth: Implant-supported Bridge
Advantages
- Excellent function and aesthetics
- Predictable results
- Prosthesis only supported by implants
- Adjacent teeth not affected
- Bone loss stabilised around implants
- Reversible as implants can be removed
- Excellent tolerance and no effect on taste
- Longevity of prosthesis
- Does not cause decay and gum disease
- Low repair and maintenance required
Disadvantages
- Greater cost
- Surgery required
- Can be lengthy treatment
Limitations
- Some medical conditions affect surgery
- Requires space from adjacent and opposing teeth
- Oral hygiene must be good
- Regular assessment required
Picture of titanium posts and three-toothed implant supported bridge. For the replacement of three missing teeth, two implants are usually sufficient to support them, and provide a long-term predictable solution for both the front and back teeth in many situations.
Approximate cost from £4,700
