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Despite advancements in dental health, there are many people in the general population who are still having to replace lost teeth. Keeping a full set of teeth is not as easy as it used to be because popular culture is flooded with foods which cause rapid degeneration of teeth. Habits like teeth grinding and smoking are also contributing to loss of teeth. Arguably, smoking affects a much larger scope of the population as compared to teeth grinding. Old age is also a key factor when it comes to the loss of teeth. The body becomes weaker as it grows older and loss of teeth is often one of the implications. Older people also face a higher risk of tooth loss in cases where they have a habit which jeopardizes their oral health. There are choices for replacement if you have lost multiple teeth One of the most unpleasant aspects of losing teeth is being unable to smile in public or eat normally. The aesthetic value of a good smile cannot be overstated. In most cases, people who seek restorative procedures are motivated by the need to be normal in social circles. There are four options for people who would like to replace missing teeth. All three shall be discussed in this article, which will explain different aspects about the procedures. Patients can go for dental implants, bridge, implant supported bridge or dentures. Contents Dental Implants Parts of a dental implant Types of implants Are implants painful? Healing time Risks and complications involved in the procedure Dental Bridges Types of dental bridges How do you get a dental bridge? What is the process? Protecting the dental bridge from damage Implant supported bridges When is an implant-supported bridge used? Parts of an implant-supported bridge The implant process Dentures Types of dentures Support Stability Retention Care for your dentures Keep dentures soaked in water over night Tooth replacement is not such a difficult thing to do Benefits of going for tooth replacement Dental Implants A dental implant can be thought of as a prosthetic tooth. The implant is a titanium pole that acts as the tooth root. It is surgically inserted into the jawbone under the gum line to allow for the mounting of replacement teeth or a bridge. The implant is permanent and won’t come loose like a denture would. A crown is placed on the implant, which is attached to the titanium post thus acting just like a natural tooth. Different materials can be used to blend the color of the prosthetic tooth to your natural teeth. These implants has been the more popular choice of tooth replacement since they do not affect the adjacent teeth in any way, which ends up improving oral health. Parts of a dental implant The prosthetic tooth is made of 3 parts which complement each other to add to the stability and aesthetic value of the tooth. The three parts to a dental implant are; • The fixture This is the bottom part of the implant that actually gives the treatment its name. It is implanted into the bone tissue. The fixture is a cylindrical titanium rod shaped like a screw. The metal is usually coated with hydroxyapatite, which aids with the process of osseointergration (fusion). • The abutment A crown is typically placed on a decayed tooth, which provides a stable base. When the tooth is finally removed, the abutment is used as an anchor on which the crown can be placed. The abutment is attached to the titanium post in order to hold the crown firmly. An abutment is usually placed after the process of fusion is complete. • The crown The crown is the artificial tooth that is attached to the implant. To get the right size of crown for a patient, dentists take a mould of the patient’s mouth and customize the crown accordingly. Types of implants The American Dental Association approves two types of dental implants. These are considered to be safe for patients looking to replace missing teeth. The main difference between the two types of implants is their positioning on the jawbone. • Endosteal implants These are implants that are surgically inserted into the jawbone directly. There are different designs of the implant including screws, blades or cylinders. The implants are the most common when it comes to this form of treatment and can be placed to hold a single tooth or many teeth. These implants are mostly recommended for people with bridges or detachable dentures. • Subperiosteal implants These are implants that do not go all the way down to the bone. They are placed atop the jaw, thus a metal framework protrudes through the gum for attachment to the prosthesis. The implants are mostly used for patients with no bone structure in the jaws. The implant works best when the patient is unable to wear dentures or has minimal bone mass. Are implants painful? The procedure is simple and does not take a lot of time to complete. Patients who have had implants say that the process involves very little discomfort. It is deemed to be less painful than having a tooth extraction. Patients may experience some soreness after the procedure is done; however, this is usually calmed down using over-the-counter painkillers. Healing time Implants take some time to become part of the patient’s dental formula. The first thing that contributes to implant stability is osseointergration. The process of osseointergration basically involves development of the patient’s bone at the area of the implant. Bone growth is given time until it reaches the surface of the implant. Depending on different factors, dentists usually allow three to six months for the process of osseointergration to take place. The process is allowed as much time as it takes and might take only two months if no complications arise during the healing period. Recent research into the procedure has shown that the healing process depends heavily on the initial attachment of the implant. Implant integration takes a much shorter

Restorative dentistry has to do with identifying and rectifying dental problems which may attack the teeth or supporting structures. It is geared towards rehabilitating teeth in the aesthetic and functional requirements. Restorative dentistry includes aspects of dentistry such as; prosthodontics, endodontics, and periodontics. The above mentioned respects combine in different ways to give patients the best care according to their needs. Due to developments over time, restorative dentistry has grown to cover virtually every aspect of the field for optimum dental health. The procedures are meant to achieve long-term success and are always done hoping that a follow-up process will not be needed. For people who have not had to go to the dentist for any serious problems with their teeth, the different treatments and their applications may not be so clear. In this article you shall read about situations that require root canal, dental implants and dentures. All these are restorative dental procedures whose application varies very slightly and sometimes patients even have the choice to go with one procedure over another for different reasons. Contents Restorative materials When do you need a root canal? Signs and symptoms that you need a root canal Why you need to get the pulp removed How it helps save the tooth Success rate of the procedure When do you need dental implants? Dental implants are an easier option to use Signs that you need a dental implant Implants can be placed later on Dental implants are reliable When to get Dentures Reasons for getting partial dentures Reasons for getting complete dentures More situations where you might need dentures sooner than expected Why most people choose dentures Restorative materials Before we go on defining what procedure works when, it is important that we define the materials used in such scenarios. The four materials that are used for such dental work include; dental amalgam, porcelain, gold and composite resin. Composite materials include plastic and ceramic items that can be used with glass ionomers. There are other metals that can be used besides gold even though it is the most durable. When do you need a root canal? A root canal is an endodontic procedure that most people have had in their lives. Endodontic procedures are those that have to do with the inside of the tooth. Under the white enamel lies the dentin, which is hard and under it the pulp, which is a soft tissue. The pulp is what creates the hard tissue during teeth development. It contains nerves, blood vessels, and connective tissue.The pulp goes on from the crown to the root of a tooth and connects to tissues surrounding the root. While it is important as teeth develop, the tooth can do without it when fully developed since the surrounding tissues nourish it. The inflammation of pulp necessitates endodontic treatment as the soft tissue becomes infected or inflamed. The infection or inflammation of this tissue can arise from a number of reasons such as a chip or crack on the tooth, repeated dental work on the tooth or deep decay. Pulp may also be damaged from an injury to the teeth with no visible signs of damage or chipping. Pulp inflammation or infection can cause severe pain and also lead to the development of an abscess. Severe dental pain usually leads the sufferer to think that they need a root canal. However, it is not always that a root canal solves the problem; you might need another process, and only your endodontist can decide which process is best suited for you. Signs and symptoms that you need a root canal Some of the signs to watch out for are discoloration of the tooth, pain, lingering sensitivity to hot and/or cold, swelling, tenderness that affects chewing and can be felt when the tooth is touched, as well as tenderness and drainage in the lymph nodes that also affects bone and gum tissue. Sometimes these effects may not be felt as you expect and may stay hidden until the tooth is in dire need of medical attention. It is not rare for the symptoms to stay hidden even as the damage worsens. Why you need to get the pulp removed When the pulp or nerve tissue is damaged, the pulp chamber becomes a breeding ground for bacteria which begin to multiply and cause infection. In most scenarios where the deterioration has dragged on for a while, the tooth develops and abscess which is basically a pocket filled with pus at the bottom of the affected tooth. The occurrence of an abscess is an indication that the infection has spread widely around the affected area and may come with the following effects; -Loss of bone around the root tip -Swelling that extends to other areas of the face and head as well as the neck. The pain that comes with such swelling may be so severe that it extends to the back and feels like an ear ache, making the entire area of the affected side painful. -Issues with drainage that develop outward from the root. As the problem continues, a hole may form on the side of the tooth and cause drainage into the gums. How it helps save the tooth The infected or inflamed pulp is removed by your dentist or endodontist after which they clean the inside of the root canal in readiness for sealing the space. After the space is sealed, the patient has a second dentist visit where the crown is placed and the tooth is returned to normal function. Success rate of the procedure The procedure usually occurs without there being any complications and the effect lasts for a lifetime if well taken care of. A root canal has 95% success rate and most people get to use their teeth normally for eternity. The procedure also remains discrete since the final step involves placing a crown or filling which blends with the rest of the teeth and camouflages everything that happens. When do you need dental implants?

Don’t be too busy for a visit-or two- to the dentist For many people, going to the dentist is usually at the bottom of their to-do list. Be it the fear of finding out about their failing dental health or having the doctor swab through their mouths with scary looking equipment, people will avoid trips to the dentist until they really have to. Other people just don’t see the need to; after all, they take care of their teeth quite well and have never had any dental problems. While strict dental hygiene may be the norm for many of us, the truth of the matter is that you will always need a dentist to check on you from time to time. One reason a check-up is so important is because the dentist can see a problem before it develops. Read on to find out why you can’t be too busy for two visits to the dentists; The risk of gum disease Gum disease attacks the tissue around your teeth and can be so bad that it causes tooth loss. However, the most perturbing thing is you may not feel any symptoms. Basically, this means that you may have the disease and have no clue you need a dentist. This is one of the top reasons for visiting your dentist regularly. At the dentist’s, your teeth will be checked thoroughly to make sure you have no problems with your gums. Besides, it will be beneficial for you if you were to be found with gum disease because early treatment can restore things without any serious implications. Plaque develops slowly Plaque is always there on our teeth because it comes from the food and beverages we so like to consume. Brushing and flossing goes a long way to remove plaque from teeth but if left it can develop to tartar. When plaque stays on the teeth long enough to become tartar, a toothbrush cannot help much. Such a scenario will require a dentist to take care of. If left for too long, the tartar can cause gum disease too. Tooth decay Decay does damage to the hardest part of your teeth, which is the enamel. Tooth decay can turn into a big deal if you ignore a dentist’s visit as it continues and does more damage. It usually takes a lot of dental work to care for tooth decay in many cases where the decay is detected late. Visiting your dentist regularly allows them to handle such a problem before it gets out of hand. Dentists care about your well being Every dentist feels good when they know their patients are happy with the services they are receiving. Going for a visit should not be seen as a chore but a necessity. Besides, today dentistry is much more comfortable for the patient than it used to be in the past. Now you can go for sedation dentistry if you need it to calm down during the examination. A visit to the dentist’s is very important, but more importantly, you need to keep some level of consistency. Dentists are the people who can get to hard-to-reach spots for plaque and bacteria removal that daily oral hygiene may not reach.Visit Carrum Downs Dentist for your routine check up and Clean.