Knocked Your Tooth Out? Take These Steps Immediately
Have you ever wondered what to do if one of your teeth is knocked out? Following are the steps you need to take to increase the chances that your tooth can be reimplanted.
The Differences Between Dental Implants and Dentures
Missing teeth are a serious problem that goes far beyond cosmetics alone. Whether you lose one tooth or several, it can cause:
- Increased risk of gum disease and tooth decay
- Remaining teeth shifting out of position
- Uneven wear and alignment problems
- Problems speaking or chewing
- Bone loss in your jaw
- Changes in your appearance
Fortunately, replacing missing teeth and protecting your oral health has never been easier.
Benedict Kim, DDS and the team at A Caring Dental Group in Cleveland, Ohio, specializes in restorative (or cosmetic) dentistry. Depending on the location and number of your missing teeth, we could recommend a variety of solutions. Two popular options include dental implants and dentures.
How dental implants work
Dental implants are really the gold standard when it comes to replacing missing teeth. That’s because this replacement solution uses a titanium post anchored securely in your jaw — like the root of a tooth.
This tooth-replacement option has several advantages. First, it provides a strong, permanent, and secure foundation for an artificial tooth. On top of that, because it functions like a natural tooth root, the implant keeps your jaw healthy by stimulating new bone growth.
Additional benefits of dental implants include:
- A more natural and comfortable fit
- Easier to eat and speak
- Increased oral health
- Durable, lifelong solutions
- Improved self-confidence
You can also use a dental implant for several types of restorations, including a single artificial tooth or to support dentures.
Replacing missing teeth with dentures
While a dental implant replaces a missing tooth root, dentures focus on the visible part of the tooth. This flexible restoration option comes with prosthetic teeth attached to a gum-colored acrylic base.
Unlike dentures you may have seen in the past, advancements in dentistry have created far more comfortable and natural-looking options these days. We can also provide dentures that replace a single tooth, several, or all of your teeth. Plus, they come in conventional or implant-supported options.
Conventional dentures
These dentures rely on bridges, adhesives, or suction to stay in place.
Implant-supported dentures
This restoration solution uses dental implants to fix your dentures in place. Because implants fuse with your jaw, this approach can offer a more secure fit for dentures.
It can take time to adjust to conventional dentures, but implant-supported solutions typically feel like your natural teeth from the beginning. Why? Because the restoration often requires less material to make since they attach directly to the implant posts in your gums. They also don’t cover the roof of your mouth.
Getting started
Don’t wait to explore your restoration options if you have missing teeth. Our team can guide you through the process and help determine which possibility is best for you after evaluating your oral health.
To schedule a comprehensive evaluation, call our office at 216-251-8826 today, or send a message to the team here on our website any time.
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