It’s hard not to smile about the casual, friendly nature of San Diego and the great weather all year long. But, if you’ve lost a tooth, especially in a spot that’s visible when you open your mouth, smiling might not be easy for you. Whether your tooth got knocked out due to an injury or an untreated cavity led to tooth loss, there are several ways to recreate a stunning smile, including dental implants or dentures. Here are three ways to restore your smile after you’ve lost a tooth.
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1. Dental Implants
A missing tooth can create various challenges, like difficulty chewing, increased risk of infection, changes to speech patterns, and more. If those challenges aren’t enough, a missing tooth may make you feel insecure and stop you from smiling as often as you’d like.
A dental implant addresses these issues by acting as a complete replacement for both the missing tooth and the root. A titanium or ceramic root in the shape of a screw is inserted into the jawbone and allowed to fuse with the living bone. This becomes a stable foundation for an artificial tooth to stay in place as a permanent solution. Dental implants can restore the ability to chew, minimize the risk of disease, reduce pain, and improve speech patterns. Plus, building or rebuilding your teeth with dental implants in San Diego can boost your self-esteem and make you smile again.
2. Dental Bridges
A dental bridge is a possible solution to replace one or more missing teeth. In this process, an artificial tooth is fixed to the surrounding natural teeth using dental cement. There are several different types of dental bridges, including traditional, resin-bonded, and cantilever. Each kind of dental bridge has varying levels of success depending on your oral health, the type of bond used, and other factors. While a bridge could help bring your smile back, it may only last around 10 to 15 years, even with proper care, since it’s not as stable as a dental implant and has no root system to hold it in place.
3. Partial or Complete Dentures
Dentures can be used to fill gaps in your smile. They fit over the gums and typically stay in place because of suction created by the tight fit, sometimes with the help of adhesive. Partial dentures are ideal if you still have some natural teeth remaining, while full-mouth dentures can replace the whole top or bottom row of teeth.
Dentures can be removable, so you can take them out when you don’t want to wear them, which can be convenient for brushing and flossing. But, sometimes, they might fall out when you’re not expecting it. So, even if your smile looks great, the dentures could accidentally come out of place while you’re in public, which could create an awkward situation.
The Bottom Line
A lost tooth might make you feel uncomfortable, especially if it’s in an obvious place, but dental implants, bridges, and dentures are all solutions to help you fill in the gap. Talk to your local dental professional about the best long-lasting option for you based on your dental history and budget.
