Exploring Your Options For Dealing With Missing Teeth

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Your teeth are one of your most important assets and unfortunately, most people don't realize this until it is too late. Have you ever tried to eat with several missing teeth, or eat on a sore tooth? If so, you know the whole situation can be pretty difficult and painful. This is not to even mention the looks. When you have missing teeth you are probably embarrassed and feel ashamed to smile. However, not to worry because with all the advancements in the modern dental industry there are several different options you have for missing teeth, and that is exactly what you will learn about below.

Do Absolutely Nothing

Of course, the first and probably the easiest option that you have available to you is to do nothing. There really is nothing wrong with going around with a gap in your teeth. However, you should know that missing teeth could later lead to other complications down the road. Teeth are placeholders, and with a missing tooth the other teeth could begin to adjust, shift, and even change the way you bite.

Take Advantage Of Bridgework

For the last several year bridgework has been the go to option for missing or damaged teeth. While this option is extremely popular amongst the dental community, you should know that it does come along with some downsides. For instance, if one of the two anchor teeth becomes compromised, you won't just lose one tooth, you will lose the whole bridge. This means that you might end up loosing two to three teeth, which will greatly compromise your chewing and biting abilities.

Another difficult challenge is the ability to effectively clean under the bridge. Sure, you can brush is easily enough, but flossing is almost impossible. This makes it incredibly hard to get all the germs out of the gum pockets. Mouthwash and oil pulling can help, but these two methods are not an acceptable alternative to flossing.

Dental Implants

If you are wondering how dental implants replace missing teeth, you have come to the right place. These implants are fairly new to the market, but their popularity has grown widely since their discovery. However, before you consider this option there are a variety of things that you need to consider.

When an implant like this is installed, the dentist usually implants a titanium post into the gum where the tooth is missing, and a crown in placed on top of the post. Before this process can take place there will have to be several tests conducted, because some individual's bodies will reject the titanium. On the other hand, some individuals might even be allergic to titanium, so this option will not even be feasible for them.

In addition to this, titanium can put extra stress on the immune system. Dental metals are great when it comes to battling germs and bugs that develop around the gums, but they do produce what is know an atypical toxins. These will be toxins that the body is not used to, so it will be quite a challenge for the system to adapt to fighting off the development of these new toxins.