Options for Maximum Oral Health

Losing teeth can cause lasting problems for an individual. The pockets become refuges for trapped food particles, the person’s ability to chew and thus digest food is hindered, and the remaining teeth must work harder to chew, increasing their rate of erosion. For many years, the only other options available were dentures or partial dentures. Recent advancements in technology though, have now given patients another option – the dental implant. Dental implants function just like regular teeth. They need no maintenance other than normal oral hygiene, and are permanently affixed, unlike dentures.

If you elect to have an implant, you’re probably already missing the tooth. It may have been removed due to decay, illness, an accident, or disease. When you visit the cosmetic dentist, he will first assess your physical condition and make sure your bones and body will accept an implant. After that, he will make a mold of your existing teeth to ensure that the replacement tooth mates well with the others once it is installed. Next, he will install a screw into the bone under the missing tooth. This screw will act as an anchor for the new tooth. Follow-ups and medication will be required so the dentist can make sure the screw is healing properly into the bone, and that no complications arise. This process can take up to a year, but normally takes about six months.

Finally, once the screw has stabilized, the dentist will place a porcelain crown over the screw and cement it in place. The new tooth will match the gum line and surrounding teeth, and will look and feel 100% natural. Maintenance on the new crown is the same as for your real teeth – good oral hygiene.

Even if the bone under the tooth is not in the best shape, it is still possible to install an implant. A mildly different anchoring procedure will be used, but the end result and functionality will be the same. Of course, existing periodontal disease or similar complications of the teeth and gums will have to be addressed before an implant can be installed, but once healed, the prosthetic tooth can be positioned .

You can visit cosmetic dentist marietta for information about how to improve your smile.

Austin Thomas is a staff write for profit booster SEO which specializes in search engine optimization strategies and internet marketing.