Ideally, when a patient has experienced tooth decay or facial trauma, a dentist would be able to save the tooth. However, in some cases, teeth are so badly damaged by decay or injury that they cannot be saved through restorations and must be extracted.
If a tooth extraction is more complex, it must be performed by an oral surgeon. On the other hand, simple extractions can be done by a general dentist.
Of course, after your tooth extraction, you probably will want to explore some sort of tooth replacement option (unless it is a wisdom tooth, which has no impact on the smile’s appearance when it is removed). This will help to restore your smile’s appearance and functionality.
Dental implants are tremendously beneficial to patients who have experienced tooth loss, whether it is a single tooth or an entire arch.
Patients have a number of treatment options when it comes to tooth replacement. A single missing tooth may be treated with a fixed permanent bridge, while the removal of an entire arch of teeth necessitates an upper or lower denture.
Dental implants are tremendously beneficial to patients who have experienced tooth loss, whether it is a single tooth or an entire arch. These titanium posts fuse with the bones, essentially becoming artificial tooth roots. They are more durable, stable and functional that bridges and dentures alone because they re-establish that important link between the jaw and the crown of the tooth.
Not only do dental implants hold a crown or denture in place, they also prevent jawbone atrophy that will occur after a tooth’s root has been removed. Because the implant is fused to the bone, it is also able to withstand normal chewing forces.
In the case of a single tooth replacement, a dental implant stands alone. In comparison, a fixed permanent bridge needs to have crowns on neighboring teeth to support the pontic, or artificial crown. The process of placing those crowns requires the removal of healthy enamel and may ultimately weaken those adjacent teeth.
If you are facing tooth extraction or have already lost one of your permanent teeth, you should do thorough research on your tooth replacement options, including dental implants. Contact our team at Northern Texas Facial & Oral Surgery for more information and to schedule your consultation today.
