Using Implants and Bridges to Reclaim Your Smile

Many adults lose teeth due to improper dental care as a child. Maybe their parents didn't take them to the dentist as often as they should. Or perhaps they simply indulged in too many sweets. Whatever the cause, the sad fact is that many adults simply go through their lives with these missing teeth as if it were a normal occurrence.

Of course, many of these people suffer from self-esteem issues as a result of their missing teeth. The good news for these unfortunate few is that a solution for their teeth problems is easier than they think. It is never too late to contact your dentist to restore your smile and dental health.

The replacement of missing teeth can be accomplished with a few different options, namely with dentures, dental bridges, or dental implants. An implant dentist will see to it that your missing teeth are replaced with expert care and comfort no matter which route your particular situation needs to take.

In regards to dental bridges, this is a process wherein a unit of fused teeth are supported by all of the teeth surrounding the affected area. This procedure can be quite invasive, so it is only recommended in dire cases. For this reason, it is recommended that you talk at length with your local dentist about the dental bridge procedure before deciding on it.

On the other hand, dentures and dental implants are more common for fixing the problem of missing teeth. These can be used when there is a single tooth or multiple teeth are missing. An implant dentist will typically use tiny titanium screws to replace the missing tooth's root. The screw is placed into the jaw bone where the implant will then be connected and set. The entire procedure is conducted with the patient under a local anesthetic; it can also be done under a form of conscious sedation for patients that are extremely nervous.

This is a relatively common procedure. From the initial consult to the final maintenance appointment, the treatment for dental implants can take as little as three months but as much as a year in more extreme cases.

Again, all dentists believe that it is extremely important that everyone get the best smile they can. Often this will require treatments like these in order to restore teeth that have been harmed by past abuse or neglect. All forms of dentist services will suggest getting a treatment of some kind if they feel your remaining teeth may suffer as a consequence of further neglect.

If you have missing teeth and want to learn more about how you can once again have a full set of beautiful teeth, contact your local dentist today. He/she will be more than happy to work with you in getting your smile back to its former shape!