You've had an extraction

Our aim is to help you understand your choices so that you can make the right decision for your smile, oral health and long-term wellbeing.

Not every missing tooth needs to be replaced, and sometimes leaving a gap is a perfectly reasonable option. However, depending on where the tooth was and the condition of the rest of your mouth, a missing tooth can have longer-term effects.

Replacing a missing tooth may help to:

• Restore your ability to bite and chew comfortably
• Improve the appearance of your smile
• Prevent neighbouring teeth from drifting or tilting into the space
• Maintain a balanced and stable bite
• Reduce additional strain on the remaining teeth
• Restore confidence when eating, speaking and smiling

Following an extraction, the bone that previously supported the tooth will also gradually change and reduce in volume. This can be particularly important if you are considering a dental implant, as treatment is often more straightforward when there is sufficient healthy bone available.

There are several ways we can manage a missing tooth. The most suitable solution will depend on the position of the gap, your remaining teeth and gums, your priorities, and your budget.

A dental implant is the closest we can come to replacing a natural tooth independently.

A small titanium implant is placed into the jawbone to replace the missing tooth root. Once healed, it supports a carefully made crown designed to look, feel and function like a natural tooth.

Why consider an implant?

An implant does not usually require the neighbouring teeth to be drilled or altered. It provides a fixed replacement, restores chewing function and helps preserve the bone in the area of the missing tooth.

At Hayden Dental, implant treatment is planned and provided in-house, allowing us to consider both the surgical and restorative aspects of your treatment from the outset. Click here to learn more about Implant Options, and our expert in-house Implant Team.

A dental bridge is a fixed replacement for a missing tooth.

Rather than placing an implant into the gap, a bridge uses one or more neighbouring teeth for support. There are different types of bridge, and some require considerably less preparation of the supporting teeth than others.

A bridge can provide an excellent aesthetic and functional result, particularly when the teeth next to the space are suitable for supporting one.

A partial denture is a removable replacement for one or more missing teeth.

Modern dentures can be carefully designed to restore appearance and function and may be made from different materials depending on your needs.

They are generally a more affordable option than implants or bridges and can be particularly useful when several teeth are missing.

No. Leaving the space is also an option. In some situations, particularly towards the back of the mouth, replacing a missing tooth may provide relatively little additional benefit. 

In others, leaving the gap could affect your bite, appearance or neighbouring teeth. We can assess the space and explain the likely advantages and disadvantages of each approach, including doing nothing.

You do not need to make a decision immediately after your extraction.

However, if you think you might be interested in a dental implant, we would encourage you to discuss this with us relatively early. The jawbone naturally remodels after a tooth is removed, and understanding the condition of the site can help us plan the simplest and most predictable treatment.

In some cases we may recommend allowing the area to heal before treatment. In others, earlier intervention may be beneficial. Every situation is different.

There isn't one solution that is right for everyone. Your decision may depend on:

• Which tooth has been removed
• The health of your remaining teeth and gums
• The amount of available bone
• How important a fixed replacement is to you
• Aesthetic considerations
• Treatment time
• Your budget and priorities

Our role is to explain your options clearly -including the option of no treatment - so that you can decide what feels right for you.

If you have recently had a tooth removed - at Hayden Dental, or elsewhere - we would be very happy to talk you through the possibilities.

You can arrange a consultation to discuss dental implants, bridges, dentures, or simply leaving the space, and we can advise you on the advantages, limitations, likely treatment process and costs of each option.

Book a consultation with our team to find out what could work for you.