My Blog
Posts for tag: missing tooth

While it's possible for a teenager to lose a tooth from decay, it's more common they'll lose one from an accidental knockout. If that happens to your teenager, there are some things you should know to achieve a good outcome.
Our top concern is to preserve the underlying bone following tooth loss. Like other tissues, bone has a life cycle: older cells dissolve and are absorbed by the body (resorption), then replaced by new cells. The biting pressure generated when we chew helps stimulate this growth. But bone around a missing tooth lacks this stimulation and may not keep up with resorption at a healthy rate.
This can cause a person to lose some of the bone around an empty tooth socket. To counteract this, we may place a bone graft at the site. Made of bone minerals, usually from a donor, the graft serves as a scaffold for new bone growth. By preventing significant bone loss we can better ensure success with a future restoration.
Because of its lifelikeness, functionality and durability, dental implants are considered the best of the restoration options that can be considered to replace a missing tooth. But placing an implant during the teen years is problematic because the jaws are still growing. If we place an implant prematurely it will appear to be out of alignment when the jaw fully matures. Better to wait until the jaw finishes development in early adulthood.
In the meantime, there are a couple of temporary options that work well for teens: a removable partial denture (RFP) or a fixed modified bridge. The latter is similar to bridges made for adults, but uses tabs of dental material that bond a prosthetic (false) tooth to the adjacent natural teeth to hold it in place. This alleviates the need to permanently alter the adjacent natural teeth and buy time so that the implant can be placed after growth and development has finished.
And no need to worry about postponing orthodontic treatment in the event of a tooth loss. In most cases we can go ahead with treatment, and may even be able to incorporate a prosthetic tooth into the braces or clear aligners.
It's always unfortunate to lose a tooth, especially from a sudden accident. The good news, though, is that with proper care and attention we can restore your teenager's smile.
If you would like more information on how to treat lost teeth in teenagers, please contact us or schedule an appointment for a consultation. You can also learn more about this topic by reading the Dear Doctor magazine article “Dental Implants for Teenagers.”

A dental implant as a permanent replacement for a missing tooth can match or even look better than your original tooth. How this happens takes knowledge, skill, experience, and even some art.
Here are some of the factors involved:
- Bone quantity and quality: To look and function like an original tooth, an implant must be supported by an adequate base of (jaw) bone and gum tissue. Bone has a tendency to melt away or resorb after a tooth is lost. Using new bone grafting techniques can help minimize the bone loss that occurs during healing at the extraction site. Bone grafting can also be used to rebuild lost bone at the implant site.
- Adequate bone supporting neighboring teeth: If you lose bone that supports teeth on either side of an implant, the papillae (the little pink triangles of gum tissue between the teeth) may not regenerate after the implant is placed.
- Your inborn tissue type: If your gum tissues are thin and delicate rather than thick and robust, they will be more difficult to work with. To ensure that there is sufficient gum tissue support, (gum) grafting may be necessary.
- Using the temporary crown as a template: A dental implant actually replaces a tooth root. Most dental implants are made of commercially pure titanium, which fuses with the bone in your jaw, making it very stable. The crown, the part of the tooth that is visible above the gum line, is attached to the implant; a customized temporary crown can be fitted to the implant. The temporary crown is a trial for the final crown. It can be used to assess color, shape, the appearance of your smile, and the implantâ??s function in your bite and speech. It gives you the opportunity to decide about design adjustments before the final, permanent crown is placed.
- The skill, experience, and collaboration of your dental team: Each situation is different. The final success of your implant depends on your pre-surgical assessment and diagnosis, as well as how the surgical and restorative phases of treatment are performed. The use of an outstanding dental laboratory is vital to a successful result.
Contact us today to schedule an appointment for an assessment or to discuss your questions about dental implants. You can also learn more by reading the Dear Doctor magazine article “Matching Teeth & Implants.”

Dentist - Boonville
911 Aigner Dr
Boonville, IN 47601
(812) 897-1410
Archive:
- 2019
- 2018
- June (6)
- Winning the War on Gum Disease Requires Post-Treatment Vigilance
- 3 Types of Tooth Pain and What They Might be Telling You
- Keep on Course during the 3 Phases of a Smile Makeover
- June Is National Safety Month: Be Prepared for Dental Emergencies
- Finding the Right Solution for Your Gummy Smile
- Watch Out for Signs of Gum Recession
- March (5)
- Get an Early Start Treating Root Resorption Before it's Too Late
- A Partial Denture Can Restore a Smile Marred by a Few Missing Teeth
- Consider Saving a Tooth Before you Decide to Replace it
- A Child's Teeth Grinding is Normal - But You Should Still Keep an Eye on it
- A Pediatric Dentist Could be a Great Choice for Your Child's Dental Care
- 2017
- December (5)
- Survey Says: They'd Rather Have a Root Canal
- Have a Loose Tooth? You'll Need This Two-Phase Treatment to Save It
- There's Still Hope for a Re-Infected Tooth After Root Canal Treatment
- Provisional Restorations let you Try out Your New Smile First
- 3 Ways You Can Help Your Child Feel at Home at the Dentist
- June (5)
- Include Limitations on Sugar in Your Tooth Decay Prevention Strategy
- Teeth Grinding in Older Children and Adolescents a Cause for Concern
- No- or Minimal-Prep Veneers Reduce Permanent Alterations to Your Teeth
- See Your new Look Before Dental Work with a 'Trial Smile'
- Overcoming Gum Recession will Restore Dental Health and your Smile
- February (5)
- The Parent-Dentist Partnership: Establishing Better Oral Health for Your Child
- Know the Facts Before Considering Botox for Jaw Joint Pain
- Try Conservative Measures to Treating TMD Before More Aggressive Options
- Avoid Permanent Tooth Alteration with No-Prep Veneers
- Don't Let Your Loose Tooth Become a Lost Tooth
- 2016
- October (5)
- Cleaning Your Oral Appliance Extends its Life and Ensures Good Health
- Stop Annoying Canker Sores with These Effective Treatments
- New Understanding of Bacteria Promises Better Approaches to Oral Care
- Gum Recession Could Shorten the Life of Your Teeth
- Don't let Gum Disease - the 'Other Dental Disease' - Rob you of Your Smile
- August (5)
- A Second Root Canal Treatment May Help Save an Endangered Tooth
- Metal Dental Amalgam: Still a Safe and Effective Tooth Filling
- Keep Your Saliva Flowing - Your Oral Health Depends on it
- You can Still have Implants with Diabetes - if you have it under Control
- People Born with Missing Teeth can Still Gain a Beautiful Smile
- June (5)
- Be Sure Your Child has Access to Dental-Friendly Snacks at School
- Patchy Discolorations on the Tongue Aren't a Cause for Worry
- Take These Measures to Lower Your Child's Tooth Decay Risk
- Home Whitening Kits are Safe and Effective, if Used the Right Way
- 4 Reasons Saving Your Child's Decayed Baby Tooth is a Good Idea
- March (5)
- 5 Ways to Make Your Smile More Confident and Inviting
- Though not Always Seen, it's Still Important to Replace a Missing Back Tooth
- Removable Dentures Remain a Viable Option for People with Total Tooth Loss
- Find out What Kind of Tooth Staining you Have Before Seeking a Solution
- Gaining a New Attractive Smile is More than Achievable
- 2015
- December (5)
- Periodontal Surgery may be Needed to Halt Gum Disease and Encourage Healing
- Customized Temporary Crowns let you 'Rehearse' Your Future Smile
- Paying Attention to Certain Factors Helps Ensure Successful Implant Outcomes
- Treating Dry Mouth is Important for Maintaining Good Oral Health
- Implant-Based Removable Dentures a Good Choice for Patients with Extensive Bone Loss
- 2014
- 2013
- December (5)
- Taking Care of your Teeth During Pregnancy Helps Both you and your Baby
- Dental Amalgam Fillings Remain a Safe and Reliable Tooth Restoration Option
- New Permanent Teeth - Faster Than Ever!
- Quitting the Smoking Habit Could Vastly Improve Your Dental Health
- Loose Dentures Could Lead to Further Bone Loss
- 2012
- 2011
Tags
- sensitive teeth (2)
- oral health (65)
- celebrity smiles (13)
- dental implant (2)
- veneers (8)
- gum disease (23)
- periodontal disease (9)
- heart disease (2)
- oral hygiene (30)
- dental hygiene (4)
- teeth whitening (8)
- dental implants (29)
- dental emergencies (1)
- sports dentistry (1)
- dental injuries (3)
- nutrition (10)
- root canal (8)
- tooth decay (16)
- smile makeover (17)
- cosmetic dentistry (34)
- tooth colored fillings (5)
- fillings (4)
- tooth wear (2)
- grinding (1)
- prepless veneers (2)
- dental injury (9)
- dental emergency (4)
- common symptoms (6)
- snoring and sleep apnea (3)
- oral sedation (2)
- sedation dentistry (4)
- dental anxiety (1)
- fluoride (5)
- oral cancer (9)
- smile (1)
- wedding day smile (1)
- dental fillings (4)
- pediatric dentistry (29)
- thumb sucking (6)
- floss (1)
- crowns (6)
- wisdom teeth (5)
- dental crowns (2)
- braces (3)
- orthodontics (8)
- laser dentistry (3)
- periodontal (gum) disease (3)
- diabetes (3)
- tmd (2)
- tmj (3)
- bridgework (3)
- oral piercings (1)
- tooth decay quiz (1)
- wedding day smiles (1)
- snoring (4)
- sleep apnea (4)
- dentures (7)
- dental hygienist (1)
- clear aligners (2)
- chipped tooth (2)
- bonding (2)
- dry mouth (2)
- bad breath (2)
- mouth rinse (1)
- loose teeth (3)
- cracked tooth syndrome (1)
- porcelain veneers (5)
- tongue piercing (1)
- pregnancy (3)
- periodontal plastic surgery (1)
- whitening (1)
- sealants (2)
- crown (2)
- invisalign (2)
- clear orthodontic aligners (3)
- loose dentures (1)
- smoking (2)
- mouthguards (1)
- saliva (1)
- denture (1)
- teething (3)
- mouthguard (1)
- furcation (1)
- herbal remedy (1)
- dental treatment (2)
- dental care (1)
- dental health (1)
- crown lengthening (3)
- toothache (5)
- baby teeth (2)
- power bleaching (1)
- chipped teeth (1)
- cosmetic gum surgery (1)
- dental exam (2)
- partial denture (4)
- bridge (3)
- missing tooth (2)
- replacing teeth (1)
- orthodontic treatment (5)
- topical fluoride (3)
- sinus surgery (1)
- antibiotics (1)
- tooth pain (3)
- ulcers (1)
- canker sores (2)
- dental specialists (1)
- tooth replacement (2)
- missing teeth (3)
- periodontal surgery (2)
- root canal treatment (5)
- tooth staining (1)
- removable dentures (1)
- smile design (3)
- chewing tobacco (1)
- salvia (1)
- gum recession (4)
- oral appliance (1)
- night guard (1)
- teeth grinding (4)
- toothpaste (2)
- tmj disorders (3)
- bone grafting (2)
- space maintainer (2)
- extractions (1)
- bruxism (2)
- sugar (1)
- x-rays (1)
- flossing (1)
- tooth extraction (1)
- loose tooth (1)
- root resorption (1)
- athletic mouthguards (1)
- periodontist (1)
- gummy smile (1)