A Dental Implant Might Be A Good Option For Your Missing Front Tooth
One of the best solutions for a missing front tooth is a dental implant. The other option is to get a bridge, but when you do that, the dentist has to grind down the nearby teeth and replace them with crowns that support the new artificial tooth. When you get a dental implant, the nearby teeth are not damaged in any way. A dental implant is strong, since it fuses with your bone, and the artificial tooth looks natural.
While these are great benefits to choosing an implant, there are important things you should know:
Bone Health
If your tooth has been missing for a long time, there's a chance your bone has receded. This happens naturally when you have a missing tooth root. If you don't have enough bone to hold the implant in place, your dentist may suggest you have a bone graft to make the bone thicker. This has to be done before the implant is inserted. It will probably take several months for the bone graft to heal, and this can prolong the time you have to put up with a missing tooth.
Multi-Step Process
Replacing your missing tooth with an implant is a process that is done in stages that are drawn out over several months. First, the implant is placed in your jaw bone and allowed to heal. It takes a few months for your bone to grow around the implant.
Once the two are fused together, the implant will be held just as securely as a normal tooth. If you need a bone graft first, or if you are slow to deal due to a condition such as diabetes, you may need to wait several more months before the crown is applied.
Affixing the crown to the implant is the final stage. A crown is an artificial tooth, and once it's in place, the gap in your smile is finally gone. The dentist matches the color and shape of the crown to your natural teeth, so no one will know it is an artificial tooth. You won't be able to tell either, since you can chew on it and brush it just as you would your other teeth.
Paying For The Procedure
The cost of a dental implant can vary quite a bit based upon the type of work you need done. If you need a bone graft, the procedure will cost a lot more. The type of material used to make the crown affects the price too.
Resin is more affordable than porcelain, but porcelain mimics the look of natural enamel better, so the extra expense is worth it for a front tooth. Your dental insurance may not fully cover a dental implant. You may need to pay most of the cost out of your pocket. If so, your dentist may be able to refer you to a dental financing company if you don't have the cash upfront.
Although getting an implant is usually a long process, it's worth it to restore your smile, since that's the first thing people notice about you. A pretty smile gives you confidence that helps boost your social life and career. Additionally, an implant can help prevent further bone loss and shifting of teeth in your mouth. For these reasons, a dental implant is a treatment worth considering as a solution to your missing front tooth.
To learn more, contact a company like http://www.completedentalhealthmi.com to learn more.
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