Dental Implant

　　Comfortable and aesthetically pleasing, but expensive

　　Post-operative care is similar to natural teeth

　　Dental implants, also known as dental implants, refer to the surgical implantation of artificial roots, followed by the placement of dentures on top. Compared to other restorations, it does not damage adjacent teeth, is comfortable, natural, aesthetically pleasing, and functions close to natural teeth. This restoration method can be used for individual tooth loss, multiple tooth loss, or even complete tooth loss. However, the dental implant procedure has a longer cycle (3-6 months or even longer), relatively high cost, and requires the patient to be in generally good health, with good alveolar bone conditions, or to be able to surgically widen and heighten the alveolar bone to meet the requirements of implantation. Therefore, patients with poor general health, severe osteoporosis, or severe alveolar bone resorption are often not suitable for this restoration because the "foundation" of the dental implant is difficult to establish.

　　Dental implants, like natural teeth, require daily cleaning, preferably with dental floss, to avoid peri-implantitis affecting the lifespan of the implant. If after the completion of dental implant restoration, you feel discomfort in occlusion, you must have a follow-up check-up to avoid irreversible damage to the implant or adjacent natural teeth. To make the dental implant last longer, avoid chewing excessively hard food during normal use. If the dental implant becomes loose or the gums become red and swollen after a period of use, you should consult a doctor as soon as possible to check for any problems. Even if there is no discomfort, a follow-up check-up should be performed every 1-2 years.

　　Fixed Denture

　　Only suitable for patients with individual tooth loss

　　Post-operative maintenance should prevent caries of abutment teeth

　　Fixed dentures, also known as fixed bridges, are dentures that are supported and fixed by adjacent natural teeth on both sides. This method has a short restoration time, moderate price, is more comfortable, convenient, and aesthetically pleasing than removable dentures, and functions close to natural teeth. However, this method is only suitable for individual tooth loss and requires abutment teeth on both sides of the missing area, and the tooth roots must be strong and healthy, after all, the "bridge" needs a good foundation. The biggest disadvantage of this restoration method is that it requires the removal of tooth tissue from adjacent healthy teeth, so the number of patients using this restoration method has been gradually decreasing in recent years.

　　Similar to dental implants, in addition to paying attention to oral hygiene and avoiding hard objects, fixed bridges also need to pay attention to caries of abutment teeth. Some patients find that after several years of fixed bridge restoration, the abutment teeth have completely decayed, not only causing the fixed bridge to loosen, but sometimes also accompanied by pulpitis of the abutment teeth, and even requiring extraction of the abutment teeth. Therefore, a follow-up check-up once or twice a year is necessary.

　　Removable Denture

　　Affordable but with a strong foreign body sensation

　　Requires cleaning after each meal

　　Removable dentures, also known as removable dentures, are dentures that are retained and supported by clasps and bases. Its advantages are its wide range of applications and low price, suitable for individual tooth loss, multiple tooth loss, and complete tooth loss, especially for patients with posterior tooth loss. However, wearing dentures causes a strong foreign body sensation, and the dentures should be removed and cleaned immediately after each meal, and it also has a certain impact on pronunciation and aesthetics. In patients who wear dentures for a long time, the probability of adjacent teeth developing caries and periodontitis will increase.

　　Since removable dentures are restorations that can be removed and worn by the patient themselves, the patient may feel that they are too loose or too tight when removing and wearing them, so the doctor usually schedules 1-2 follow-up visits after wearing the dentures, sometimes even more. Patients should clean the dentures immediately after each meal, and should remove the dentures at night, clean them, and soak them in clean water. Hot water or organic solvents should not be used for cleaning. Due to the possibility of caries and periodontal disease of the remaining teeth, it is also necessary to have a follow-up check-up for removable dentures once or twice a year.

　　In summary, each restoration method has its advantages and disadvantages. For individual tooth loss, and with abutment teeth in front and behind, all three restoration methods can be chosen, but implant restoration is the preferred choice. For individual tooth loss but no abutment teeth behind the missing area, multiple tooth loss, or complete tooth loss, only implant restoration or removable restoration can be chosen. Of course, the restoration plan for each patient needs to be determined by the doctor after a detailed examination, combined with the patient's subjective requirements and socioeconomic conditions. Regardless of the restoration method, paying attention to oral hygiene, not biting hard objects, and timely and regular follow-up check-ups are the key to making the restoration last longer and better.