When you have missing or damaged teeth, it can have a major impact on your self-esteem. A gap-toothed smile can even affect your ability to get a job or to interact with others in social situations. It’s an unfortunate fact but it’s one that people with missing or damaged teeth have to face every day. At ZDental, we know the pain of having missing or damaged teeth all too well; that’s why we strive to help our patients in the Philadelphia area and New Jersey obtain the perfect smiles they’ve always dreamed of. If you have missing or damaged teeth, here are a few options you may want to consider if you want to repair your smile and get your confidence back:
Dental Crowns
When a tooth is damaged but not missing, it may still be possible to save it as long as the pulp and root are intact. Whether you have a severe cavity, or a fractured or chipped tooth, getting a crown may be able to stabilize and strengthen it. With a dental crown, the damaged tooth is specially prepared by removing its outer surface so it can accept a dental appliance that mimics the color and appearance of your natural teeth. With the crown cemented in place, your pulp and root will be protected from bacteria, acid, and mechanical damage, plus it will look and perform exactly like your old tooth!
Dental Bridges
In some cases, your tooth may already be missing, or we may not be able to save it. When your tooth is missing entirely, a dental bridge can be the perfect way to get your smile looking the way it used to. With a dental bridge, teeth on either side of the gap are prepped in the same manner as they would be for a crown. Next, a dental bridge is created to fill the gap with an appliance that looks and feels just like a real tooth. The bridge is then cemented in place over your prepped, healthy teeth and once it’s cured, nobody will be able to tell you ever had a missing tooth!
Dental Implants
While dental bridges are an excellent solution to replace missing teeth, they do have some drawbacks. Food can get stuck under the bridge, and they do occasionally fall out, necessitating a replacement. For a replacement tooth that’s just as strongly-rooted as a natural tooth, dental implants are just what the dentist ordered. With a dental implant, a metal attachment point is firmly rooted in the jaw, where it actually bonds with your own living bone. When this metal implant is fully healed, it can be used to attach a realistic replacement tooth that looks just like your old one. Not only that, but it will also be just as strong as a natural tooth and may even be able to last as long as 20 years!
If you have missing or damaged teeth, you don’t have to just live with it. ZDental has 5 locations in the Philadelphia area and New Jersey and we’re always available to assist you with dental crowns, dental bridges, and dental implants in Philadelphia, PA. Visit our contact page to find the location closest to you and give us a call to schedule an appointment today. Your perfect smile is waiting for you; all you have to do is pick up the phone!
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