Of all of the dental issues that mar otherwise beautiful smiles, missing teeth really stand out. A missing tooth anywhere in the mouth leaves a dark hole where a beautifully white tooth should be. No amount of superficial cosmetic treatments can create a flawless smile if it has a missing tooth. When they set out to improve a patient's smile, cosmetic dentists first resolve large issues like missing or damaged teeth before moving onto shaping and whitening procedures.
If you have missing teeth, you likely want to know your treatment options so you can choose the right procedure for your lifestyle. This article covers two of the most common tooth-replacement procedures performed by cosmetic dentists.
1. Dental Implants
One of the most popular tooth replacement options is dental implant installation. Dental implants are the most natural-looking and real-feeling replacement teeth, and they are practically permanent. In fact, as long as patients take care of them by following their dentist's brushing and flossing instructions, their dental implants can last for the rest of their lives.
Getting an implant installed isn't a simple process, though. If your jaw can support the implant, your dentist will install a metal rod where the missing tooth's root once was. Once the rod has fully integrated with the jaw bone, your dentist will add a permanent crown to the visible part of the rod. This crown will look identical to a real tooth, so no one would guess that your smile isn't completely original to your mouth.
2. Bridges
If you are looking for a less invasive way to replace a tooth, you may want to choose a bridge over an implant. Traditional dental bridges are tooth-supported crowns. This means, instead of relying on an implanted rod to hold a crown (replacement tooth) in place, bridges rely on attachments to the backs of neighboring teeth. From a distance, dental bridges look completely natural. Unless someone looks into your mouth from just the right angle, they will never see the bridge's structure hiding behind your teeth.
To install a dental bridge, your dentist will first shave down the backs of the teeth on either side of the gap in your smile using a dental drill. Then, they'll attach a pre-made custom dental bridge to those teeth using dental cement. The bridge will fill the gap in your smile immediately.
To learn more about tooth replacement procedures, contact a cosmetic dentist in your area.
Share11 August 2020
Do you care for your teeth like you should? Most people brush their teeth, but so many people rush through this process and are not as careful as they should be. Still others avoid flossing. A lack of dental care over the years can lead to increased decay. Thankfully, we have dentists who can treat decay with fillings, crowns, and in some cases, root canals. Dentists also provide preventative care. They can clean your teeth and use things like fluoride treatments to strengthen your enamel. The more you know about dental care, the better you'll be able to care for your mouth, so feel free to read some of the articles on this website.