If tooth loss is unavoidable, there are various options for replacement that can effectively restore your smile. 

• Dental implants are artificial tooth roots that can be surgically anchored to the jaw to hold a replacement tooth or a bridge in place.  Implants are permanent and stable, and they look and feel just like natural teeth. Dental implants may also be used in addition to a denture for better stabilization.
• Dentures are removable replacements for missing teeth and adjoining tissues. Partial dentures are an option if you have some natural teeth remaining, as they fill in the spaces created by missing teeth and prevent other teeth from shifting position. Full dentures are appropriate if you have lost most or all of your teeth.  "Immediate" dentures are inserted immediately following removal of the natural teeth, while "conventional" dentures are placed in the mouth about eight to 12 weeks after tooth removal.
• A dental bridge is a false tooth that is fused between two porcelain crowns to fill in the area left by a missing tooth. The two crowns holding it in place are attached onto your teeth on each side of the false tooth and the bridge is not removable because it is secured into place.

Reviewed: January 2012