Is replacing a missing tooth one of your New Year’s resolutions this year? If you have lost a tooth due to tooth decay, infection, gum disease, trauma or any other reason and have been putting off replacing it due to cost or fear of the dentist, now is the time to replace it. Failure to replace a missing tooth or multiple missing teeth can lead to a variety of serious dental health problems and can threaten the health of your remaining teeth. For starters, a missing tooth leaves a place where bacteria can accumulate and contribute to periodontal disease and other problems. Also, if you leave a space in your jaw, the other teeth in your mouth will shift to fill the space. This can cause your teeth to shift out of proper alignment. Perhaps the most serious consequence of failing to replace missing teeth is the fact that it can lead to irreversible bone loss in your jaw.
So, the question becomes, how do you replace a missing tooth or multiple missing teeth? When it comes to replacing missing teeth, there are a variety of options to be considered. A fixed dental bridge is one option for replacing one missing tooth or a few contiguous missing teeth. You can also consider a partial dental. If you are missing all of your teeth, you may want to consider full dentures. Dental implants are another tooth replacement option and can be used to replace one, several or all of your teeth. While this option is more expensive than the other options, it also offers many benefits that the other tooth replacement options do not offer. Dental implants provide a long-term, fixed solution to missing teeth and provide for replacement teeth that look, feel an function like normal teeth. For many, the ability to have replacement teeth that look and feel like natural teeth and the ability to eat all the foods they love without worry is priceless. While dental implants are not completely covered by most dental insurance plans, many dental practices offer in-house and/or flexible financing plans to help cover the cost. Your flexible savings account (FSA) can also be used toward the cost of dental implants.
Your dentist is the best person to help you decide which tooth replacement option works the best for your particular situation. Don’t put your dental health at risk by failing to replace one or more missing teeth. Schedule an appointment with your dentist today!
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