Teeth are such an important part of daily living but are rarely actively thought about or felt. Even so, their loss can have a huge impact on you and your health. Tooth loss can happen in a number of ways. You might have lost it accidentally during a contact sport. Maybe a tooth had become decayed to the point of being irreparable and needed to be removed. What do you do now? Here are some answers for people who are recovering from tooth loss.
What Happens If I Don’t Replace It?
Without a tooth’s root in place, your surrounding jawbone structure will begin to gradually lose density. To prevent this from happening, your dentist can perform extraction site preservation to fill the empty space where your tooth’s root once was. This treatment is also helpful if, in the future, you want to replace the tooth with a dental implant, providing it with a fortified area of the jaw to be securely placed in.
What Can I Replace My Lost Tooth With?
Your dentist can provide you with a few options to replace your lost tooth, such as:
- Dental bridge. This procedure involves your dentist shaping the two teeth on either side of the gap to fit dental crowns on. These dental crowns will act as anchors for the pontic, which will fill the gap, restoring your smile’s natural appearance and providing improved function to your bite.
- Dental Crown. Using lifelike porcelain, zirconia, or metal, your dentist can mold you a crown that will mimic the top, visible part of your lost tooth. This crown will be supported by a titanium implant post, which is placed and fused into your jaw bone, replicating the root structure of a tooth.
Regain Your Smile
Losing a tooth can be a difficult event to go through. We can provide you with dentistry services to help you. Contact our local Austin, TX office today at 512-250-9444.
