Options for Single Tooth Replacement
The right tooth replacement strategy is vital for your health and the quality of your smile. Losing a permanent tooth can be embarrassing. It can also be detrimental to your oral wellness. If you have lost a tooth, you should make an appointment with your dentist right away. You can feel good knowing that there are multiple ways to correct this problem. You can then have a new smile and a restored ability to chew.
Teeth are meant to last a lifetime, and they are the strongest parts of the body. Still, different factors can contribute to teeth falling out. A person’s poor oral hygiene is a common way that this happens. If someone does not brush or floss regularly or properly, teeth can weaken and deteriorate. This makes teeth much more prone to become loose and falling out.
Trauma can also dislodge a tooth. Bumping a tooth with a hard object can knock it out. This can happen while playing sports or as the result of a fall. Biting into something such as a utensil or food can cause a tooth to fall out.
If a person loses one tooth, the dentist may first recommend getting a dental implant. While this is not always the most appealing economic solution for multiple teeth, it may make sense for a single tooth. Implants are durable and long-lasting. They consist of three parts: a titanium post, an abutment, and a tooth-colored crown.
The dentist inserts the screw-like post deep into the jaw, where it fuses with the bone. After a few months of healing, the dentist attaches the abutment to the post. More healing occurs before the patient comes back into the office. At this time, the dentist places the natural-looking crown. Implants restore smiles and the person’s ability to eat most foods.
Most people are familiar with dentures as a way to replace teeth. A full set of dentures can replace every tooth in a person’s mouth. Partial dentures are also available for tooth replacement. These are removable and have an acrylic base, a metal framework, and an artificial tooth made of ceramic, porcelain, or metal covered in plastic. The dentist can fit the patient with dentures to replace as few as one tooth. It restores the person’s smile and allows for normal chewing.
A dental bridge is an effective tooth replacement method for one tooth. To put it in, the dentist will place crowns over the teeth on either side of the gap. A metal framework goes on the back of these teeth. To fill the space, the dentist inserts an artificial tooth called a pontic.
It can be difficult to live with tooth loss. Even missing a single tooth can hinder your smile and complicate chewing and other health-related matters. You will be happy to know that there are options available for tooth replacement. Talk to your dentist today about which method makes the most sense for you.
Request an appointment here: https://www.mydentistinscottsdale.com or call Piccolo Dental Associates at (480) 951-2782 for an appointment in our Scottsdale office.
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