woman at a dental appointment

Dental clinic. Reception, examination of the patient. Teeth care. Young woman undergoes a dental examination by a dentist.Happy patient and dentist concept.Female dentist in dental office talking with girl patient.Beautiful teeth

Dentists everywhere want all of their patients to care diligently for their smiles so they can keep all their teeth for life. Retaining your natural pearly whites into old age comes with a number of benefits, from helping you eat a more nutritious diet to promoting better self-confidence and overall well-being.

However, the truth is that few people make it to their older age with all of their teeth remaining. If you are on the brink of losing one or more teeth — or if you are already missing some — it is important to know about your tooth replacement options, including dental implants in Marietta.

Your Options in Tooth Replacement

Dental implants can rebuild the natural tooth structure to help you keep your remaining pearly whites firmly in place. This method replaces the missing tooth’s supportive root with a titanium post that is surgically implanted directly into the jaw. After this post has fused together with the bone over the course of several months, a replacement crown, bridge, or denture can be affixed on top.

Or, even if you are not a candidate for dental implants, modern dentures and partials can take the place of several missing teeth to help you smile confidently once again. A complete denture is used to replace an entire arch of teeth in the upper or lower jaw, while a partial fits in with the remaining teeth like a missing puzzle piece. A denture rests directly on the gum line or clips into brackets when not supported by dental implants.

Act Fast after Tooth Loss

Don’t delay in replacing missing teeth. The best course of action is to have a plan before teeth are extracted or lost — but this is not always possible, as in the case of injury or other unexpected factors. Contact your dentist as soon as you know you have a failing tooth or right after a tooth has been lost. The earlier you act, the higher the likelihood that you will be eligible for dental implants. Or, in some cases, reattachment of the tooth may even be possible.

Preventing Tooth Loss

Of course, the preferred solution to tooth loss is to stop it from happening altogether — and in many cases, simple preventive methods will go far in helping you keep your teeth right where they should be for years to come.

Some of the steps you can take to prevent tooth loss include:

  • Brush and floss your teeth regularly
  • Visit your dentist every six months — whether you feel like you “need to” or not
  • Seek treatment for nighttime teeth grinding and jaw clenching (bruxism)
  • Wear a protective mouthguard if you play contact sports

Overall, partnering with your dentist is the wisest thing to do before and immediately after tooth loss!

Posted on behalf of Envision Dental

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