The importance of our teeth is well known to us even though at times we take them for granted. Why else would we endure braces for teeth if we didn’t think they were important? As adults our teeth are the only set that we get. Some people have even died because they got an infection in one of their teeth that connect directly to the arterial system that leads to the heart. Proper maintenance and care such as brushing and flossing regularly can help to keep the teeth and gums healthy.
But what happens when circumstances outside of our control damage our teeth like a friend that gets to rowdy and throws his hands up in joy only to hit the bottle of beer in your hands that smashes into your mouth knocking two of your teeth out?
This is a vivid illustration but these types of circumstances happen. We have two options when we are faced with the realization that our permanent teeth are removed or need to be removed.
Option One: Live With It
We can go on living with a space in our teeth. Many people live without all their teeth and they get by. Wisdom teeth are the perfect example. Most everyone will get their wisdom teeth taken out. They tend to grow in at awkward angles that push on the other teeth and this can cause issues down the line with the other teeth.
They can also grow in perfectly but because they are so far back they are hard to clean and over time will eventually rot; requiring them to be extracted anyway. But if the tooth that is missing is one that is in view when we smile we want another option.
Option Two: Replace It
If a missing tooth or teeth is affecting a person’s smile they want to be able to replace the missing tooth. The good news is that we can.
There are a few types of dental implants that look like real teeth and can replace either one tooth or multiple teeth. One type of implant is a single false tooth implant. This is where a single false tooth is implanted into the jaw with a rod.
If the space that needs a false tooth is small, such as in the front on the lower jaw, then a mini implant may be used. This implant is similar to the single false tooth but it is a lot smaller.
If we need to replace several teeth like the four front ones then we can get a partial denture. A partial denture is similar to the single false tooth but it has two or more false teeth that are fastened to the jaw with a rod.
We have options when it comes to our permanent teeth that when they unexpectedly come out. We can either chose to live with the space or replace the missing tooth. Each decision should be discussed with our dentist to realize the potential health hazards that each may have and which choice is the healthiest choice for you.
