If you’ve lost a tooth in Bootle of late, chances are you’ll want to get it replaced sharpish, probably for vanity reasons. Depending where the tooth has gone missing, it can not only look unsightly, but cause other problems in the mouth with speech and chewing and in some cases, affect the shape of your face. But there are other more serious problems that losing a tooth can cause in the future. A gap such as this is a haven for trapping food, causing bacteria to build up- this can lead to further decay, infection and disease, and the surrounding teeth can start to move towards the hole that’s been left. One solution to this problem is a bridge; they are available in various shapes and materials depending on the position of your loss. If your tooth has been lost at the front of the mouth, you can get away with a porcelain replacement that can be matched in colour to the rest of your teeth. If however, the tooth is in a position where a lot of chewing is done, a stronger replacement is required, such as porcelain over metal or gold. There are three main types of bridge on the market. A Maryland bridge is a plastic tooth that is attached to the surrounding teeth with wires and covered with a resin bond- as is the cantilever bridge that is used when there is only one tooth to fix the bridge to. The most common however is where a false tooth or teeth are bonded to two crowns that are cemented onto the adjacent teeth that remain- in this case where two or three teeth need replacing, the fitting can be enhanced further by using an implant to anchor the bridge. Caring for a bridge is important. It will require an attentive cleaning regime and special cleaning tools, as well as regular oral hygiene, but if looked after, a bridge can last you up to 20 years and re-instate the beauty
Posts Tagged ‘missing tooth’
Choosing dental bridges in Bootle
Sunday, December 12th, 2010Aintree dentist restores patients smile with dental implant
Sunday, October 4th, 2009
A missing tooth can leave an embarrassing gap in your smile that can be the source of self confidence issues. After all, smiling is one of the most important communication methods we have. A dental implant might be just the solution you have been looking for to repair your smile and your confidence. Dental implants are the most realistic form of dental replicas and offer a greater degree of stability than other procedures.
The implant itself is in the form of a screw that is anchored directly into the jawbone which acts as a stable base to attach a crown. Usually made of titanium or other lightweight substances suitable for use in the human body, implants offer a genuine substitute for real teeth. Suitable for most patients, dental implants have been around for some years but due to recent advances in technology and surgery methods they are rapidly becoming the choice option to replace missing teeth.
Due to the sturdy nature of a dental implant no messy adhesive or dental bonding is needed and certain foods, which are difficult to eat with other dental substitutes, are not a problem for a dental implant. Also, because of the extra stability there is little chance of profile loss or facial shrinking that can occur when teeth are missing.
The implant procedure usually has three steps. Firstly the screw is implanted into the jaw so it is just proud of the gumline. It is then left so it can fuse with the bone and gum to become solid in a process called osseointergration. Next, a post is attached to which, in the final stage, the dentist will attach the realistic ceramic crown.
Dental implants work especially well for patients who have strong existing jaw and gums. With a commitment to good oral hygiene they can last as long as a real tooth and will look almost exactly the same. If you are suffering with a missing tooth from decay or an accident, an Aintree dentist might be able to bring back your smile with a dental implant.