The goal of modern dentistry is to restore the patient to normal contour, function, comfort, esthetics, speech, and health, whether restoring teeth with caries or replacing an entirely missing tooth. ADVANTAGES OF REPLACING MISSING TEETH: Esthetics: ● Replacement of missing natural teeth enhances the esthetics ● Adjacent natural and healthy teeth can be spared ● The patient’s natural facial contour, esthetics can be maintained Functionality: ● Enable patients to chew normally ● Patients can maintain good oral hygiene just like they do for natural teeth ● Speech patterns will not be disturbed Longevity: ● When properly maintained, replaced prosthetic teeth last for a long time ● This enhances the psychological well-being of patients ● Helps improve nourishment for patients as loss of teeth hinders required nutritional intake METHODS TO REPLACE MISSING TEETH: Missing teeth can be replaced by many methods. A few of the tooth replacement options that are currently practiced to replace the missing teeth are: Dental implants Fixed partial dentures Removable partial dentures Complete dentures

1) DENTAL IMPLANTS: An implant is an artificial root that replaces the missing tooth and holds the artificial crown in place to make it function like a natural tooth. Implants are made of titanium material that has the unique ability to mix with bone. As time progresses, the implant becomes harder as the bone grows around it, making it function like a natural tooth. Implants can be used to replace one or more missing teeth. In the cases of inadequate bone, implant-supported overdentures can be given to completely edentulous patients. It is the most expensive option for the replacement of teeth. PROS of dental implants: ● They are one of the most effective ways to replace lost teeth ● They give a natural look and feel ● There is no dental involvement with your adjacent teeth, so the nearest teeth remain strong ● They are a permanent, lifelong replacement if maintained properly CONS of Dental implants: ● Most expensive of all the dental treatments ● Most invasive dental surgical procedure and requires a minimum 3 month period to heal 2) FIXED PARTIAL DENTURE: Commonly called bridges, they are indicated in partially edentulous patients, where missing teeth are replaced by using adjacent teeth as support or abutments. It requires modifying the adjacent teeth to support the crown or cap. The number of adjacent teeth to be involved depends upon the number of teeth lost. PROS of fixed partial denture: ● The most commonly practiced method of replacing missing teeth ● Less expensive when compared to implants CONS of fixed partial dentures: ● Requires involving adjacent teeth, which may lead to the destruction of healthy teeth ● This may lead to marginal leakage and caries of adjacent teeth, eventually ● Very Long span bridges cannot be planned when more than 2 teeth are missing 3) REMOVABLE PARTIAL DENTURES: Missing teeth are placed on either acrylic or metal plates, and these must be worn by the patient throughout the day and must be removed during the night. Clasps are given to these plates to maintain them in their position. PROS of removable partial denture: ● They are the most economical option of replacing the teeth ● Adjacent teeth can be spared ● Can replace any number of missing teeth CONS of removable partial denture: ● Might become loose over a period of time ● Retention is an issue with these removable prostheses ● Requires removal of the prosthesis during the night and maintenance of proper hygiene of the prosthesis

4) COMPLETE DENTURES: Most common prosthetic option for completely edentulous patients. Acrylic plates and acrylic teeth are used to replace the missing teeth. Complete dentures must be worn during the day and must be removed during the night. PROS of complete denture: ● Most acceptable form of replacement of teeth in completely edentulous patients ● Economical ● Teeth can be customized according to the patient ● Teeth size, shape, and color can be selected based on sex, age, and personality of the patient ● Gingival shade can be matched, and characterization can be done by adding stains and silk threads to mimic blood vessels CONS of complete dentures: ● Dentures become loose after a period of 5-6 years ● A new set of dentures is recommended if this happens ● Insufficient alveolar bone provides less support to the dentures, hence the loss of retention can be seen in such cases leading to loose dentures ● Continuous wearing of these dentures can lead to bone loss underneath ● Improper oral hygiene maintenance leads to fungal growth on the surface of acrylic dentures What happens if you don't replace an extracted tooth? Replacement of missing teeth is essential. Failure to replace missing teeth may compromise: ● Esthetics ● Phonetics ● Functionality ● Ability to chew Keeping in mind the above-mentioned disadvantages of missing teeth, it is also better to be safe than sorry. Immediate replacement of missing teeth not only saves patients future misery, time, and money but also boosts patients’ confidence and efficiency in day-to-day life.