Don't let a missing tooth
hold you back

🦷 What causes missing teeth?

Tooth loss can happen for a variety of reasons. The most common causes in Singapore include:

• Tooth decay: Untreated cavities can damage a tooth beyond repair, requiring extraction.
• Gum disease (periodontitis): Advanced gum disease destroys the bone and tissue supporting the teeth, eventually causing them to loosen and fall out.
• Trauma or injury: Accidents, sports injuries, or falls can knock out or fracture teeth beyond salvage.
• Failed dental work: Old fillings, crowns, or root canals that deteriorate over time may lead to tooth loss.
• Congenital absence: Some people are born missing one or more permanent teeth (hypodontia).

Regardless of the cause, replacing a missing tooth promptly helps prevent further complications including bone loss, teeth shifting, and bite changes.

⚠️ What happens if you don't replace a missing tooth?

Many patients delay treatment because a missing tooth — especially a back tooth — may not seem urgent. However, the consequences of leaving a gap compound over time:

• Bone resorption: Without a tooth root to stimulate it, the jawbone in the gap area begins to shrink. Up to 25% of bone width can be lost in the first year alone, making future implant placement more complex.
• Teeth shifting: Adjacent teeth gradually drift into the gap, and opposing teeth may over-erupt. This changes your bite alignment and can create new gaps elsewhere.
• Bite and TMJ problems: Uneven chewing forces can lead to jaw pain, TMJ disorders, and excessive wear on remaining teeth.
• Facial changes: Prolonged bone loss causes a sunken, aged appearance as the lower face loses structural support.
• Difficulty eating and speaking: Depending on the location, missing teeth can affect your ability to chew certain foods and pronounce words clearly.

💎 Dental implants — the gold standard

A dental implant is a titanium post surgically placed into the jawbone, topped with a custom crown. It is the closest modern dentistry can get to replicating a natural tooth — both in function and appearance.

How it works: The titanium post fuses with the jawbone over 3 to 4 months (osseointegration), creating a stable foundation. A custom-made crown is then attached, matched to your surrounding teeth in shape, size, and colour.

Key advantages:

• Preserves jawbone density by providing stimulation similar to a natural tooth root
• Does not affect or require modification of adjacent teeth
• Permanent and fixed — no need to remove for cleaning
• Can last 20+ years with proper care
• Medisave claimable (up to $1,950 per implant)

Considerations: Requires sufficient bone (bone grafting may be needed), involves a surgical procedure, and has a longer treatment timeline (3–6 months). Not suitable for patients with uncontrolled diabetes or heavy smokers without prior management.

🦷 Dental bridges — when are they the right choice?

A dental bridge uses the teeth on either side of a gap as anchors (abutments) to support a false tooth (pontic) in between. The adjacent teeth are trimmed and fitted with crowns that hold the bridge in place.

Best suited for:

• Patients who want a fixed, non-removable solution without surgery
• Cases where the adjacent teeth already have large fillings or crowns (since they need to be trimmed anyway)
• Patients who cannot undergo implant surgery due to medical reasons
• Replacing 1–2 adjacent missing teeth

Limitations: Requires grinding down healthy adjacent teeth, does not prevent bone loss in the gap area, and typically lasts 10–15 years before replacement is needed. If an abutment tooth develops problems, the entire bridge may need replacement.

🦷 Dentures — affordable but with trade-offs

Dentures are removable appliances that replace missing teeth. Partial dentures replace some teeth while full dentures replace an entire arch. Modern dentures are more comfortable and natural-looking than older designs.

Advantages:

• Most affordable upfront option for replacing multiple teeth
• No surgery required
• Can be made relatively quickly (2–4 weeks)
• CHAS subsidies available for eligible patients

Trade-offs: Must be removed daily for cleaning, may feel bulky or loose over time, does not prevent bone loss, and needs relining or replacement every 5–8 years as the jaw changes shape. Some patients find eating certain foods difficult with removable dentures.

Implant-supported dentures: For patients who want the stability of implants with the coverage of dentures, implant-supported overdentures use 2–4 implants to anchor a removable denture. This offers a much more secure fit than conventional dentures.

✅ How to choose the right replacement option

There is no single best option — the right choice depends on your individual circumstances. Here are the key factors to consider:

• Number of missing teeth: Single implants work well for one tooth, bridges for 1–2 teeth, and dentures or All-on-4 for multiple or all teeth.
• Bone condition: A CBCT scan will reveal your bone density. Implants require sufficient bone (or bone grafting). Bridges and dentures do not.
• Budget: Dentures are the most affordable, bridges are mid-range, and implants have the highest upfront cost but the best long-term value.
• Health considerations: Certain medical conditions may affect suitability for implant surgery. Your dentist will assess your overall health.
• Lifestyle preferences: Do you want a fixed solution you never remove, or are you comfortable with a removable appliance?
• Long-term goals: If bone preservation and longevity are priorities, implants are the strongest choice.

💰 Cost comparison: implants vs bridges vs dentures in Singapore

Here is a general cost overview for tooth replacement options at Trust Dental Surgery:

Dental implants: Osstem implant $2,449 total ($499* after Medisave). Straumann implant $3,449 total ($1,499* after Medisave). Includes CBCT scan, surgery, medications, and crown. Medisave covers up to $1,950 per implant.

Dental bridges: From $800 per unit. A typical 3-unit bridge (replacing 1 tooth) costs approximately $2,400–$3,600. Not Medisave claimable but CHAS subsidies may apply for the crown component.

Dentures: Partial dentures from $450. Full dentures from $800. CHAS subsidies available — up to $418.50 for complete dentures and $395.50 for complex partial dentures (Pioneer Generation cardholders).

All prices are before GST (9%). Final fees vary based on individual assessment. Your dentist will provide a full cost breakdown before treatment begins.

🏥 Using Medisave for missing tooth replacement

Under Singapore's CPF Medisave scheme, dental implant surgery is a claimable procedure. Key points:

• You can claim up to $1,950 per implant from your Medisave account
• You can use your own Medisave or an immediate family member's account
• Medisave covers the surgical component of the implant procedure
• Bridges and dentures are not Medisave claimable
• At Trust Dental, we handle all Medisave paperwork and claims for you

For patients with CHAS cards, subsidies are available for dentures and crowns (which form part of bridges). Bring your CHAS card and NRIC to your appointment. Trust Dental Surgery is CHAS accredited at both clinics.