Terri Ramsey Beavers Losing a tooth is never a pleasant experience. There are several common reasons why tooth loss occurs, ranging from trauma to cavities and gum infections. In most cases, tooth loss can be prevented if you see your dentist regularly and look after your teeth.
However, if you do lose a tooth you may find that your confidence takes a hit. After all, you will be reluctant to smile and this will affect your ability to interact on social occasions. A missing tooth will also cause your other teeth to move. This process happens gradually but it will age your face more rapidly than normal. It can also cause additional strain on your remaining teeth.
Whatever the situation, when you lose a tooth you need to see a reputable dentist, such as this dentist Campsie, as soon as possible.
1. Implants
This is the most common approach to tooth loss and a very effective one. When you have a dental implant your dentist will drill a small hole in your jaw bone and insert a titanium peg. This will be left for a couple of weeks and monitored. Your bone will actually fuse with the titanium peg!
After this is done the dentist can fit the crown. That’s the visible part of your tooth. It attaches to the peg in your mouth, making the implant almost as sturdy as a natural tooth.
Implants are fairly expensive but they are custom made to match your teeth and they will last a lifetime. You will still need to look after them in the same way as you would any other tooth.
2. Implant Bridges
If you are missing more than one tooth you may want to consider an implant bridge instead of individual implants. Instead of putting pegs in your jaw for every tooth, one peg is placed at each end of the implant. The teeth are molded together and then attached to the two implants, giving you the impression of natural teeth.
These are as strong as natural teeth but there is a high probability that the bridge will need replacing at some point in the future.
3. Tooth Bridge
The tooth bridge works on the same principle as the implant bridge. It fills the gap made by several teeth but, instead of being attached to pegs in your jaw bone, it’s attached to your existing teeth. This prevents the need for surgery and the risk of infection.
However, adjacent teeth will need to be filed to accommodate the bridge and food can occasionally get under the bridge, giving a higher risk of infection-related issues in the future
4. Removable Dentures
This is potentially the simplest option although it usually means you need to be careful about what foods you eat. Partial or even complete dentures are custom made for your mouth and simply attach with metal clamps
They are the cheapest option but they will need to be removed to be cleaned every night and they can be uncomfortable. In addition, the clasps may be visible.