How is a missing tooth replaced

00:07So what we're looking at here is a removable partial denture that's got a metal chrome

00:12framework and you can see what's holding these teeth onto the adjacent teeth are these metal

00:19clasps. And all I want to illustrate really is a few different denture designs. So certainly

00:26the advantage of a removable denture usually is its cost in that of all the tooth replacement

00:32options this is the cheaper of the lot. So it's usually around, say, $1,500 estimate,

00:41something you'd get a quote from the dentist for.

00:44This denture here you just need to look at as well. The disadvantage is it is potentially

00:49going to show when you smile. It doesn't always, but can show you that clasp when you're smiling.

00:57And also the function, you can see with the function of this denture, it's holding onto

01:01the teeth next door with the clasp and should you not actually have a tooth behind the gap

01:07-- so in this instance there's no tooth behind here -- quite often when you're biting it's

01:11going to rock a little. And depending on why you're getting your teeth replaced, you may

01:17consider that this actually, if you're going for function, isn't going to give you a lot

01:21of function. So a removable denture doesn't actually give you much function, it's even

01:25worse if there's no tooth behind it. In contrast, the next option you may consider

01:31is a bridge. Now, the bridge's advantage is that it's fixed so it's not removable. So

01:37a denture you need to take out at night so you don't get a fungal infection underneath

01:41the denture which sometimes occurs. A bridge is something which is permanently fixed there.

01:47So your dentist will shave down the two teeth next door, you can see the reduction in the

01:53tooth shape that occurs with that bridge preparation, and then they cement that bridge on top. So

02:01its advantage is that it's fixed to the teeth next door. Disadvantage is probably it's price,

02:05it's roughly about $3,500, but you'd need to check with your dentist to get an accurate

02:09quote for, and it can weaken the teeth next door, well, rather it does weaken the teeth

02:14next door. So sometimes you'll find that the tooth next door actually breaks because of

02:19the load that it's taking by holding onto these teeth.

02:26The alternative option for teeth replacements are implants, the big disadvantage of the

02:31implants is its cost. We have the implant component which might be $2,900 and the crown

02:37which might be that same amount again as well. The advantages of the implant really is that

02:42it's fixed to the jaw, it's not touching the teeth next door, and it's not something that

02:49is going to cover the palate at all or have clasps like a removable partial denture.