Dental Replacement Options For A Bicuspid That Needs Extracting

The bicuspid teeth, also called premolars, are wide transitional teeth that are located between the cuspids or canines in the front and the molars in the back. There are two bicuspids on each side of both upper and lower jaw. These teeth are important for both holding food during chewing and for helping the molars grind the food for swallowing. The loss of a bicuspid tooth to extraction can cause chewing issues and impact your self confidence when you smile wide.

There are a few different dental replacement options for a bicuspid that you can discuss with your cosmetic dentist. The best choices combine durability with chewing comfort.

Fixed Bridge

If you need an immediate replacement or have payment concerns, a fixed bridge might be the best option. A bridge has one artificial tooth crown suspended between two crown shells that are bonded to the neighboring natural teeth. The bridge is fairly stable due to the tooth support and can always be removed if you decide on a different replacement in the future.

If you are missing two teeth in a row, your dentist can fabricate a cantilever bridge, which has the tooth shells on the same side. The support isn't as great as with a traditional bridge but can still work if this is only a short-term solution.

Dental Implant

Dental implants are very stable and durable for a bicuspid replacement. A metal-backed porcelain artificial tooth crown will be snapped onto a metal root that is inserted into the jawbone and healed into place by the bone itself. This setup provides a very stable base, a durable metal backing, and a porcelain upper that resembles a natural tooth.

The main downside of dental implants is the long treatment time. Your dentist needs to insert the metal root and give your jawbone enough time to heal around the bone. This is a process that can take multiple months. You might find waiting worth it for the final result and your bare bicuspid spot likely won't be noticeable to others during your treatment process.

Implant-Supported Partials

Do you have more teeth missing on the same side of your mouth? Multiple dental implants might not be within your budget, but implant-supported partial dentures are the next best things.

The dentures are held into place using the same metal roots used in dental implants. But your dentist will create a customized partial denture plate that has artificial teeth and holes to accommodate your natural teeth. The natural teeth will thus help the implant roots hold the plate in place for the most comfortable chewing experience.


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