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If you lose a tooth, you can replace it with a false (artificial) tooth. If you don’t replace it, your other teeth may get out of line. You need to care for complete dentures and partial dentures as carefully as you would look after natural teeth.

A false tooth is a term that can be used for several different dental devices used to replace a missing tooth. It is important to replace a missing tooth due to orthodontic problems that could arise if nothing is done. Teeth opposite the empty space will tend to move inwards in order to fill the gap. A tooth opposite the gap can become loose as well. In the end this one missing tooth can cause a need for serious and expensive dental work in order to restore functionality and looks to the mouth. Simply replacing the tooth with false tooth when it first comes out is a much better, and cheaper, idea.

There are Four Main Types of False Teeth

1. Fixed bridge (or fixed partial denture)
   A dental bridge, uses a false dental crown, essentially a false tooth, connected to two other crowns in order to replace a missing tooth. This is a relatively easy and cost effective way to replace a missing tooth. Bridges work better for teeth at the rear of the mouth that are under more stress. Bridges are fixed and not removable. If you would like a removable option partial dentures can also be used to replace missing teeth.
2. Partial denture (or removable partial denture)
   One or more false teeth are held in place by clasps that fit onto nearby healthy teeth. You can take the false teeth out yourself, for cleaning and a night.
3. Complete dentures
   If you lose your teeth, these dentures can replace all your natural teeth.
4. Dental implants
   A dental implant is almost inarguably the best false tooth option. They are strong and permanent. Dental implant surgery is expensive because of the time, expertise and materials involved. Dental implant failure has become a rare thing, it happens in less than 7 percent of the patients who get them, so they are a great investment.
   You must have healthy gums and bone (under your teeth) to support the implant. Your dentist (or oral surgeon) will put a small metal post into your jawbone. Over time, the post will bond with the bone around it. The post (or implant) will act like an anchor to hold one or more false teeth in place.

Gum Disease and False Tooth

People who have complete or partial dentures, false teeth, can also get gum disease around any natural teeth that are left. If you have gum disease:

• Your false teeth will not fit well over gums that are sore, swollen or bleeding.
• Your partial dentures (or removable dentures) will not be held firmly in place if your natural teeth and gums are not strong.

Be sure to see your dentist regularly for professional cleaning and check ups, so that he or she can detect any early signs of gum disease, and provide appropriate treatment.