Dental Advice for the Sweet Tooth

Hey! I'm Frankie, and welcome to my dental advice blog. I'm a foodie and I love sweet treats, but I also love my teeth! It can be hard to keep your dental health in top condition when you've got a sweet tooth, but it's not impossible. Over the years, I've learned tons of great advice from friends, family members and dentists, and I'd love to share it with you. My blog is here to give you all the tips and tricks you need to stay free of decay and other tooth problems without giving up all your favourite foods and snacks.

A Fantastic Dental Implant Solution for a Long-Term Missing Tooth

Dentist Blog

It doesn't technically matter if your tooth has been missing for years, or even decades—it can still be replaced. Dental implants will duplicate the missing tooth, often looking and behaving exactly like the tooth it's replacing. The trouble is that when a tooth has been absent for some time, you might need an additional preparatory procedure called bone grafting. This might be enough to make you think that a dental implant is too much effort, too much bother. But, as is usually the case, there are options. 

Changes to Bone Density

When a tooth is lost, the part of your jaw that supports it (called the alveolar ridge) changes. It no longer has to support the bite pressure that the tooth is subjected to, so it loses some of its density. This density has to be replaced before the bone can support the titanium alloy screw (the actual dental implant) that will serve as an artificial tooth root.

Bone Grafting

Bone density is replaced with bone grafting. A tiny amount of bone material (which can be synthetic, from a donor, or harvested from elsewhere in your mouth) is placed on the section of your jaw that will host the implant. It then integrates with the bone, and density is restored. This can take several months and requires a small surgical procedure, which is enough to make some people no longer want to have a dental implant at all. But grafting isn't always essential, depending on the location of the implant.

Transosteal Implants

When the implant is going to be installed in your lower jaw (your mandible), you might be able to skip the need for any bone grafting. This involves a specific kind of dental implant, called a transosteal implant. All dental implants require a small surgical procedure, but the procedure is a little more complicated for transosteal implants. However, if it allows you to avoid grafting, it can really be worthwhile. What makes a transosteal implant special?

Extra Reinforcement

A transosteal implant features extra reinforcement, regardless of your bone density (or lack thereof). Your dentist attaches a small metal place to the underside of your jaw. The implant screw connects to this metal plate and extends upwards through your gums. Your prosthetic dental crown (artificial tooth) is then attached to the tip of the implant screw. The whole effect is remarkably secure, and it allows you to receive the best possible tooth replacement system without needing bone grafting. 

So if bone grafting is discouraging you from getting a dental implant, you might want to have a chat with your dentist about transosteal implants.

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18 August 2022