Are Tooth Gaps Harmful?
A tooth gap might be popular with some celebrities, but not all tooth gaps are a sign of a healthy smile. Here’s how to tell if your tooth gap needs to be treated to protect your oral health.
Our dentist may recommend dental implants after extracting teeth. A dental implant is a prosthetic tooth root made of titanium that supports an abutment and crown. Many of our patients appreciate dental implants because they look and function like natural teeth. If you haven’t considered dental implants before, here are 4 signs you might need them.
If you have missing teeth, our dentist might recommend an implant to help you maintain good oral health. Otherwise, your lower jaw will start to deteriorate and eventually alter the shape of your face. The best time to get a tooth implant is immediately after extraction.
Your teeth are held in place by roots and adjacent teeth. This means that when you lose a tooth, nearby teeth are likely to tilt toward the open space, loosen, and eventually fall out. Fortunately, dental implants support nearby teeth so you can continue smiling with confidence.
A bridge is comprised of an artificial tooth anchored by crowns on healthy adjacent teeth. In other words, a dental bridge “bridges” the gap left by a missing tooth. If you aren’t sure whether you qualify for a tooth implant, call our office to schedule a consultation with our dentist. We’d be more than happy to answer any questions you might have.
In order to place a dental bridge, our dentist would have to file down teeth on both sides of the gap. Once this tooth structure is removed, it can never be replaced. Our dentist prefers implants over bridges because they don’t affect adjacent teeth. This lets you keep as much natural tooth structure as possible.
A tooth implant is sturdier than a bridge because it’s anchored to your jaw. This added stability helps you smile, talk, and eat with confidence. Dental implants are also long-lasting. This means you’ll be able to enjoy a beautiful healthy smile for years to come.
Dentures don’t prevent jawbone deterioration because they sit on top of your gums. A tooth implant, on the other hand, will exert pressure your lower jawbone needs to stay healthy. If you don’t get a tooth implant, you will eventually lose jawbone tissue and experience facial collapse. Once the jawbone deteriorates, it’ll become harder to refit dentures so you can chew without pain.
Unlike dentures, dental implants never slip. This means that you can eat, talk, and smile like you did before tooth loss. While denture teeth have to be submerged in water or denture cleanser when they aren’t in your mouth, implants can be cared for like natural teeth.
Even well-fitting dentures will occasionally slip when you sneeze, cough, laugh, or smile. This makes it hard to continue eating your favorite foods after losing a tooth. Eating tough foods (like steak) can also create sore spots where your dentures meet your gums.
With dental implants, you’ll be able to eat whatever you want once you heal from the procedure. Dental implants are embedded in your jawbone, stabilizing the abutment and crown so they don’t move while you chew. Since dental implants don’t move, you’ll also feel more confident when you eat in public.
To learn more about our Waterford implant dentist and the services we offer, please contact us here or call Dr. Taylor’s Family Dental Center at (248) 681-8100. Our dental professionals strive to be the very best at providing patients with optimal care while making them feel right at home here in Waterford, MI.
