I have always envied those around me who seem to always have perfect smiles without even trying, because I feel like I was born with "bad teeth." While my teeth are in great shape now, it is only because I take great care to visit the dentist every six months for a check-up and cleaning and maintain good oral hygiene habits at home. While I used to get a lot of cavities, even though I thought I was doing "everything right" to keep them away, I am proud to say that I have been cavity-free for a couple of years now! I put a lot of research into what daily habits can wreak havoc on my teeth, and I thought it would be a shame not to share what has helped me with others who need the advice. I plan to post many oral health tips on my new blog!
Many Americans have missing teeth, but although it is common, it can still impact your self-esteem and confidence. If you are missing one or more teeth, you may be considering tooth-replacement options, such as dental implants. Dental implants are an excellent choice for replacing missing teeth because they are extremely durable. However, there are different types of dental implants to consider, so check out these three implant options to know which is right for you.
Single Dental Implant
A single dental implant recreates one tooth (including the root and crown of the tooth). First, the dentist uses a titanium root implant, which is placed in your jawbone to act as the new root. Once the area is healed, the dentist places the crown, which gives you back your missing tooth. As the area heals, the jawbone also fuses to the titanium root, which mimics the strong hold ligaments have on natural teeth. The dental implant looks and works like a real tooth, so you can floss around it without special floss. Single dental implants are best if you only have one or two missing teeth. A single dental implant usually costs between $2,400 and $3,000.
Implant-Supported Bridge
If you have a few missing teeth in a row, several single dental implants can work, but because of their high price, it's more cost effective to use an implant-supported bridge. Like a regular dental bridge, an implant-supported bridge replaces teeth with one unit. However, instead of using your real teeth as anchors for the bridge, they use dental implants. This makes them stronger than traditional dental bridges. Typically, the dentist uses fewer implants than with crowns. For example, if you are replacing four missing teeth, the dentist may only use half the number of implants because the crowns are all connected in one unit. This type of bridge works great, but you will need special floss to floss under the bridge or risk gum disease.
Implant-Supported Dentures
If an entire row or both rows of teeth are missing, the most affordable implant option is implant-supported dentures. As with an implant-supported bridge, the denture uses fewer implants than crowns, which is how you save money. However, unlike single dental implants and implant-supported bridges, this type of implant can be partially removed. You can't remove the artificial titanium roots, but you can remove the crowns. Unlike normal dentures, however, the implant-supported dentures snap into place, stabilizing them.
For many people, a single dental implant may be enough, but if you are missing multiple teeth, a handful of single implants may simply not be cost effective. If you are tired of hiding your smile, it's time to consider dental implants. For more information about dental implants or other tooth-replacement options, contact a cosmetic dentist in your area today.
Share17 July 2018
