Losing a tooth is a traumatic experience, both physically and emotionally. It’s not surprising, then, that corrective dental procedures are considered to be restorative as well as cosmetic. They restore both the tooth and your appearance. If you have lost one or more teeth, there are three ways to restore your smile at a Dentist Kamuela HI. If all or most of your teeth are missing, then you will need dentures. If only one or a few teeth are missing, they can be replaced with a bridge or dental implants.
The case for dentures is clear. Obviously, you can’t chew without teeth. The case for a bridge or dental implants is less obvious, because it would seem that you could get along just fine missing only one or two teeth. However, bridges and dental implants are more than just cosmetic. Did you know that missing only one tooth can adversely affect your ability to chew or speak? Also, the gap created by that one missing tooth can eventually cause your other teeth to drift out of place. Therefore, you should have any missing teeth replaced by a professional dentist in Kamuela HI.
You may choose a bridge or dental implants to replace one or a small number of missing teeth. If you have at least one good tooth on each side of the gap created by one or more missing teeth, you can opt for a bridge. With a bridge, your new tooth or set of teeth stays in place because it is attached to two crowns that go over the teeth on each side of the empty space.
Another option for replacing a missing tooth is a dental implant. A dental implant is comprised of an artificial tooth and root. It does not need to be attached to other teeth to stay in place. The artificial root is safe because it’s made of surgical grade titanium. What’s particularly fascinating is that your jawbone actually grows into the implant over the course of several weeks. That’s why the implant doesn’t fall out.
Dentures, bridges and dental implants are all options for replacing lost teeth at a Dentist Kamuela HI. When dentures aren’t necessary, patients most often choose bridges, though dental implants are gaining popularity. With proper care, any of these options will keep you smiling for many years.