When Your Body Attacks Your Teeth: Combating Autoimmune Dental Problems

Three Reasons To Ask For A Dental Implant Instead Of A Bridge

When you knock out a permanent tooth, you have options for how to replace the tooth. For a long time, the option of choice was to use a dental bridge. However, you can get better, more natural results by using a dental implant. 

Limitations of a Dental Bridge

One way to replace a tooth is to anchor the replacement tooth to the teeth on either side. A dentist will first have to prep these adjacent teeth by filing down the enamel to make a smooth, flat surface that brackets can then be attached to. With the brackets in place, the dentist has a crown made and then uses wires to attach it to the adjacent teeth. While this method can be effective, it does have its limitations:

1. You have to be careful what foods you eat because hard or sticky foods can put strain on these anchor wires, which can then break. 
2. The wires and brackets can trap food, which can be hard to remove either by brushing or flossing. Trapped food can promote decay to the adjacent teeth. 
3. A bridge will not stimulate the bone like a natural tooth would, so you can have bone loss which can undermine the integrity of the adjacent teeth. 
4. Attaching the crown to the adjacent teeth will increase the strain on these teeth, which can lead to damage. 

The Advantages of a Dental Implant

A dental implant begins with a post that must be anchored directly to your jawbone. A dentist will place the crown by drilling a hole in your jawbone. If this sounds painful, it is. However, the artificial root thus created will have the strength of a natural root. The bone must heal around the post for six months before a dentist can affix a crown and finish the fake tooth. Once the tooth is complete, however, it will have the look and strength of a natural tooth. Furthermore, pressure on the tooth will travel down the root and stimulate the bone, which will keep your jawbone strong and viable. 

Despite the time it takes to complete a dental implant, it is still worth it. Your replacement tooth will be easy to clean and hard to recognize as a fake. You will, however, need to warn hygienists who work on your tooth because metal tools can scratch the post, and the scratches thus created can allow germs to get under your gums and cause infections. With the right care, your replacement tooth will leave your smile looking whole and healthy for decades to come. FOr more information, talk to a professional like Family Dental Center TriCities, PC.