You are missing one or more teeth: this is what we call edentulism.
The other teeth silently take the strain and, because chewing is less efficient, your stomach has to work harder. Replacing missing teeth is essential if you want to keep all your other teeth in the long term.
The most basic and the fastest solution is a removable denture, also known as a partial denture or, in the past, “false teeth”.
The advantages
- Quick to make: 5 weeks.
- The most affordable option.
The main drawbacks
- There is some loss of taste, which is greater the more teeth are missing.
- You must rinse the denture under water after meals, otherwise food debris gets trapped and causes bad breath.
- The clasps are not very attractive and gradually loosen the teeth that hold the denture in place.
The other solutions are fixed and feel just like your own teeth: either a bridge (resting on the neighbouring teeth) or implants.
