A Tooth can be lost due to a variety of reasons like caries, trauma, gum infection/disease. After a tooth is lost a patient has two options either to replace a tooth or to not replace a tooth. If the patient does not replace a tooth the tooth adjacent to that space tilts into it and the antagonist teeth supra erupts into thar area disturbing the occlusion if mouth. This disturbed occlusion causes inefficient chewing leading to muscle atrophy of one side of face as well as gastrointestinal problems due to partially digested food.

However, if one decides to replace the tooth there are various options available :

Dental Implants are the newest way to replace a tooth. In this technique, a titanium implant is inserted within a bone. After the first sitting a healing period of few months is required for osseointegration i.e. the fusion of implant with the bone. After this an impression is taken and a crown is placed over it. The most advantageous aspect of this process is that that adjacent tooth is not prepared.

A Dental Bridge is a process where a false tooth called as pontic bridges the gap between the adjacent tooth. Two adjacent tooth on either side of the gap is prepared to receive a crown. They act as pillars of a bridge which supports a pontic or an artificial tooth. The advantage of this procedure is that it is a fixed option.

Dentures are removable appliance designed to replace missing tooth. In this process an impression is taken and a removable acrylic plate is fabricated. This helps in chewing foods as well as improve the appearance. This option is generally preferred in old age or in cases where the other two options are not feasible

Implant Supported Denture : This is a process wherein implants are screwed within a jawbone over which a denture is placed. This is a modern approach to replace a tooth when a patient does not have any tooth in mouth.