People who have lost a single tooth face a special type of problem. Esthetics or appearance usually motivate the individual to replace the tooth, but the continual natural development and movement of the other teeth make replacement especially important. If nothing is done to replace the missing tooth there is a risk of movement of the teeth in the opposite jaw and also a risk of neighboring teeth drifting into the space. The simple fact that there is one less tooth for the person to chew on reduces chewing ability.
Fortunately, there are several restorative options that a patient may choose to replace a single missing tooth. The options include a resin retained bridge (Maryland Bridge), a fixed bridge, a removable partial denture or an implant supported single crown. There are advantages and disadvantages to each of these options.
