Replace Multiple Missing TeethUpper Back
Situation: Missing Upper Back Teeth
- Functional problem: molar teeth are necessary for chewing food
- Esthetic problem: some people show these teeth when they smile
- Risk of eruption of opposing teeth
- Risk of drift of neighboring teeth
- Increased susceptibility to cavities and further bone loss
- No support for bite: this may cause muscle and joint problems
Treatment Options
Removable Partial Denture
Advantages:
- Most economical
- Tooth and lost bone and gum structure may easily be replaced in one appliance
Disadvantages:
- Bulk
- Must be removed nightly
- Difficulty with speech
- Altered taste
- Risk of cavities and bone loss
- Difficult to chew
Fixed Partial Denture With Cantilevered Pontic (No Back Support)
Advantages:
- Fixed and predictable
- Immediate result
- Average live span is 5 7 years
Disadvantages:
- A bridge with no back support has poor strength
- Need to incorporate more teeth in the bridge
- Prepared teeth may need root canal treatment
- After tooth structure has been removed, a tooth is susceptible to cavities
- There is a risk of progressing bone loss
- Regular chewing forces cause the bridge to come out
Fixed Partial Denture
Advantages:
- Fixed and predictable
- Immediate result
- Average live span is 5 7 years
Disadvantages:
- Long span bridge has poor strength
- Need to incorporate more teeth in the bridge
- Prepared teeth may need root canal treatment
- After tooth structure has been removed, a tooth is susceptible to cavities
- There is a risk of progressing bone loss
Dental Implant Supported Fixed Partial Denture
Advantages:
- Fixed
- Excellent function, bite force is 95% of natural dentition
- Stabilize bone
- No adjacent tooth preparation is necessary
Disadvantages
- Longer treatment time to final restoration
- Need for minor surgery
- May need site preparation to replace missing bone and soft tissue prior to dental implant placement
