Can You Get Veneers With Missing Teeth?

 

If you’re researching your options for improving your smile, you may have happened upon veneers in your research. Veneers can be an appealing way to achieve a “Hollywood smile,” but they’re not a good idea for every patient. Because a veneer is affixed to the surface of a natural tooth, there has to be a natural tooth present, which means that you can’t get veneers on missing teeth. Veneers are strictly cosmetic, serving no clinical or functional purpose; they are designed, instead, to mask aesthetic concerns like discoloration, deformities, or cracks or chips that don’t compromise the structural integrity of the tooth. So, while you can’t replace a missing tooth with a veneer, you can use veneers to improve the appearance of the natural teeth, and you can replace missing teeth with one of a variety of different methods, some of which match or even exceed the aesthetic benefits of veneers.

 

Common causes of tooth loss include oral health issues like tooth decay or gum disease; injury or impact that knocks out or otherwise dislodges a tooth; and weakened bone and oral structures due to health and aging. Additionally, in some other cases, people are simply born without certain teeth; these “hypodontic” people have a hereditary condition wherein some of the permanent teeth never develop, generally leading to the absence of one to six teeth. If you’re primarily looking for a cosmetic solution to a flawed smile, you might think it’s okay to leave missing teeth unreplaced if they’re not in a visible area of your mouth. This assumption is false.

 

Even if you’re able to smile confidently, speak clearly, and eat comfortably with a tooth missing, there are several valid, important reasons to replace a missing tooth. Missing teeth often lead to dental misalignment as the remaining teeth gradually ease into the place where there was once a tooth, causing crowding that interferes with cleaning and increasing the likelihood of decay and gum disease. Gum disease and decay, in turn, encourage the loss of additional teeth, creating a cycle of damage that will only worsen over time. Additionally, dental misalignment can also affect the bite, preventing the upper and lower rows of teeth from meeting properly while biting and leading to painful jaw problems like TMJ, which can interfere with the ability to eat a nutritious, balanced diet. Of course, depending on the location of the missing tooth, its absence could also interfere with eating comfortably. Finally, when there is no tooth root present to exercise the jawbone, the bone gradually deteriorates, creating a sunken, prematurely old appearance in the jaw.

 

While there are multiple options for replacing missing teeth, methods involving dental implants help prevent the bone loss that occurs when natural tooth roots aren’t present, maintaining the shape and appearance of the lower face. These restorations use dental implants to support individual crowns, bridges, or dentures, depending on patient needs. Implant-based restorations provide stability, longevity, and a natural look and feel, making them the preferred method for tooth replacement in many cases. Dental implants are considered a permanent treatment option that is easily maintained and aesthetically superior, but the process for placing implants can be costly, and most implant treatments require long healing times. Dental implants are also only advised when there is no active gum disease present and when there is adequate bone present, which can mean months or even years of treatment before implants are an option. For patients whose budgets or schedules won’t accommodate dental implants, less invasive replacement options like bridges or dentures can be suitable options for restoring the function of the dentition and reviving the appearance of the smile.

 

Related Article: What Happens If You Don’t Replace Missing Teeth?