Tooth Replacement Options After Tooth Extraction

When you hear you need a tooth extraction, it is common to worry about having a gap in your smile for the rest of your life. Fortunately, a general dentist can provide a tooth replacement to restore your smile. From dental implants to flipper teeth, there are many replacement options after a tooth extraction.

What to expect after tooth extraction

Tooth extraction involves removing the entire tooth structure, roots and all, from its socket. The healing period should be relatively fast, taking only a few days. Once healed, the patient can return to the dentist to discuss tooth replacement options.

During the healing stage, a patient can expect to eat a soft food diet. The patient must also take about 24 hours off their normal routine, including time off from work, exercise, and social activities. Rest helps the body heal, so try to prioritize it as much as possible in the days after tooth extraction. Proper healing makes it easier to place the replacement tooth successfully.

Common tooth replacements

A general dentist can provide a variety of tooth replacement options. Here are the three most popular choices.

Dental implants

Dental implants are metal posts that fit into the jawbone and serve as artificial teeth roots. A dentist will then place a dental crown on the implant to fill the gap. Implants are highly adaptable, as they can replace a single tooth, several teeth, or even an entire arch of teeth. They are also permanent, look and feel like real teeth, and prevent the jawbone from shrinking by keeping it engaged.

Dental bridges

Dental bridges use an artificial tooth (or pontic) anchored by dental crowns or wings on the adjacent teeth to replace a pulled tooth. This provides a permanent smile restoration that acts like a real tooth. After pulling three teeth in a row, dental implants may anchor the pontic, creating an implant-supported bridge to fill the gap.

Flipper teeth

A flipper tooth is a partial denture, meaning it replaces one or several teeth. Like traditional dentures, flipper teeth are removable and sit on either the upper or lower arch like a retainer. They are durable, comfortable, and custom-made using an impression of the mouth. This makes them an effective option for patients who want a tooth replacement that does not require oral surgery or crown placement.

Benefits of replacing a tooth after extraction

While it is not medically necessary to replace an extracted tooth, there are many benefits to doing so. The first and most commonly known is that it restores the appearance of the smile. There are, however, other benefits besides a smile's appearance. Tooth replacements also restore functionality to the smile, enabling the patient to eat and talk as they would have before the tooth extraction. They also prevent the remaining teeth from shifting around. Finally, as mentioned, some replacements keep the jawbone engaged and prevent it from shrinking.