Should You Choose an Implant or a Bridge?
There are good reasons for replacing missing teeth. Not only will tooth-restoration improve your appearance and help you to look younger, it can also improve your ability to eat and speak. Additionally, empty spaces in your smile give plaque and bacteria extra places to accumulate, which can lead to gum disease and tooth loss. If you’ve ever wondered if you should replace a tooth with an implant or a bridge, the following information might help. Implants are very popular, since they sit directly in your jawbone, and do not need to be removed to be cleaned. They are also very sturdy, long-lasting and natural-looking. Be that as it may, not everyone is a good candidate for implants. If your gums are not healthy, or if you do not have enough bone in your jaw to support the implant, your dentist may suggest another restoration option. Certain medications and medical conditions, including pregnancy, may mean that implants are not for you. In that case, the dentist may suggest a dental bridge. A bridge is an effective way to replace missing teeth. It also does not require the surgery needed for implants. To place a bridge, the dentist will remove the enamel from the tooth on each end of the gap. These teeth will receive crowns and will serve as the anchors for the bridge. The dentist will take an impression of the teeth and the gap, fit you with temporary crowns and a bridge, and send the impression to a dental lab. There, a technician will create your permanent bridge. When it is ready, the dentist will remove the temporary bridgework and cement the new crowns and bridge in place. If you are missing one or more teeth, you should talk to Dr. Latino about your restoration options, including an implant or a bridge. If you need implants or a crown, Dr. Latino and the staff at Chad Latino DDS can help you find the right solution for you. Contact us to schedule an appointment.
First Aid for Lost Crowns
When your dentist, Dr. [doctor_name], originally installed your dental crown, it was intended to restore the tooth for a long time to come. Unfortunately, there are times when something like a blow to the face or gum disease can compromise the cement that is anchoring the crown in place. If a crown falls out, it needs thoughtful first aid while you seek treatment at [practice_name]. While you are waiting for your appointment with Dr. [doctor_name], there are a few common first-aid considerations to keep in mind to help you take care of your lost crown and the abutment that previously anchored it. Do not attempt to clean the abutment or the crown. This could potentially cause damage to the abutment and exacerbate the problem. You can gently rinse your mouth with lukewarm salt water if a blow to the face left blood or debris in your mouth. Any other cleaning measures should be left to our highly trained team of dental professionals. If the crown fell out as a result of bacteria compromising the cement that holds it to the abutment, there should be a few telltale signs. You should see the abutment sticking out from your gums, and the crown itself should be completely hollow. If this is the case, Dr. [doctor_name] might be able to clean the crown and abutment and cement it back into place. If the abutment broke off at the gumline or has been otherwise damaged, you should see some or all of it inside the crown. When this happens, Dr. [doctor_name] might need to perform a root canal to restore enough structure to secure the crown back into place. If you have just lost a dental crown in [city], [state], you should call [practice_name] at [phone] to seek timely treatment.
Dental Implants Have Become a Popular Dental Restoration Option
Losing a tooth to severe decay, damage or extraction can pose a number of significant complications to your oral health. If the tooth was visible in your smile, it could mar your appearance and leave you feeling self-conscious in social situations. In the past, a dental bridge was the most common way to restore a lost tooth. Over the course of the last twenty years, dental implants have evolved and become one of the most popular treatments in restorative dentistry. A titanium implant can be installed in a single outpatient appointment. You will need to be fully sedated for your own comfort. This means you will need to arrange to have a friend or family member drive you home after the appointment. To install the titanium abutment, an oral surgeon will make a small incision in your gums to gain direct access to your jawbone. A narrow channel will then be made in the bone and a titanium abutment will be screwed into place. Titanium is known to be biologically safe and will eventually fuse with the surrounding bone in a process known as osseointegration. After the titanium abutment has fully integrated into your jawbone, your dentist, Dr. [doctor_name], can fit it for a crown that is made from porcelain, gold or base metal alloys. The material that [heshe] recommends for the crown will be based on the tooth’s primary function in your mouth and appearance in your smile. A lost tooth can have serious complications to your long-term oral health and function. You should call our office at [phone] to see if dental implants in [city], [state], are right for you.
