Just as the saying goes ” you don’t know what you have got till it’s lost”, many people seem to neglect their teeth till the worst has happened. Either it falls out or it is damaged beyond repair and has to be removed. Then we find out eating our favourite meals are not as pleasurable as before or that your smile has been marred by a missing tooth.
Happily, there are a variety of tooth replacement options. They include dentures, bridges and implants.
Deciding which one suits you should be done after assessment by your dentist and discussion of your expectations with your dentist.
Here is an overview of the three options stated above.
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| Denture |
OK , let’s start with the dentures
They are the easiest to produce, they are the most affordable. It is the best option for replacing multiple teeth scattered around the mouth. The major disadvantage is the fact that it is removable and requires daily cleaning outside the mouth. It is also the most bulky .
Bridges are another option. Just as the name implies, they are used to bridge gaps ( in this case missing tooth/teeth). It involves adjustment of the adjacent teeth to support the artificial tooth. It is fixed in the mouth. A disadvantage is that it makes maintainance of a good oral hygiene more difficult.
Implants. They are the ideal replacement for single missing tooth but can also be used for multiple teeth. It involves drilling a hole in the bone which then holds the implant and artificial tooth. It is permanent but is the most expensive of the above stated options.
| dental implant |
These are the most acceptable tooth replacement options, they will most likely vary with each individual situation and consultation with your dentist. What is most important is making you leave the dental office smiling.
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