Dental Implant and Bridge Placement for Restoring Lost Teeth

Tooth loss is a common dental condition that has various causes. Children tend to lose their deciduous teeth because more matured ones are beginning to emerge. Old people lose their teeth because their gum tissues become very soft and incapable of holding and tightening them up with the bone structure. Some suffer severe tooth decay that requires immediate tooth extraction to save the surrounding teeth, while others lose their teeth by clenching or bruxism. Fortunately, whatever the reason of tooth loss is, a corresponding dental procedure can be applied to restore the presence of lost teeth. Cosmetic dentistry has tremendously achieved in restoring the natural look of the teeth by providing prosthetic teeth such as dentures and bridges. Dentists in major cities like Hanahan offer two types of dentures: a removable denture and a non-removable denture. A removable denture practically consists of an artificial tooth connected to the vacant space on the gums through an artificial gum structure. Dentists in Hanahan design removable dentures in such a way that these look and function like natural teeth. However, this type of denture has been seen with disadvantages in terms of visibility of installation, difficulty of use, and lack of sufficient strength for chewing. A non-removable denture, on the other hand, consists of a dental implant installed deep within the gum and a bridge. Many a Hanahan dentist prefers this type of denture because of its natural look and strength. Instead of simply covering the unoccupied gum space, a dental implant is installed within the gum to provide an artificial tooth root. A tooth root is important because it prevents the surrounding teeth from invading the unoccupied space in the gums. The dental implant is made of corrosion-resistant metal, usually titanium alloy, with a screw at the exposed end. After installing the implant within the gum, Hanahan dentists require the patient to allow it to sit for six months until it finally fuses with the bone structure. Hanahan dentists explain that the curing period is necessary in achieving strength for the tooth to help it function naturally. After the curing period, the dentist sets another appointment with the patient for the installation of the bridge. The bridge is the pulp of the artificial tooth screwed onto the dental implant.