NTFOS Blog
Tooth Extraction: What are my treatment options?
11 Jun 2013 | No Comments | posted by admin | in tooth extraction
Ideally, when a patient has experienced tooth decay or facial trauma, a dentist would be able to save the tooth. However, in some cases, teeth are so badly damaged by decay or injury that they cannot be saved through restorations and must be extracted.
If a tooth extraction is more complex, it must be performed by an oral surgeon. On the other hand, simple extractions can be done by a general dentist.
Of course, after your tooth extraction, you probably will want to explore some sort of tooth replacement option (unless it is a wisdom tooth, which has no impact on the smile’s appearance when it is removed). This will help to restore your smile’s appearance and functionality.
Dental implants are tremendously beneficial to patients who have experienced tooth loss, whether it is a single tooth or an entire arch.
Patients have a number of treatment options when it comes to tooth replacement. A single missing tooth may be treated with a fixed permanent bridge, while the removal of an entire arch of teeth necessitates an upper or lower denture.
Dental implants are tremendously beneficial to patients who have experienced tooth loss, whether it is a single tooth or an entire arch. These titanium posts fuse with the bones, essentially becoming artificial tooth roots. They are more durable, stable and functional that bridges and dentures alone because they re-establish that important link between the jaw and the crown of the tooth.
Not only do dental implants hold a crown or denture in place, they also prevent jawbone atrophy that will occur after a tooth’s root has been removed. Because the implant is fused to the bone, it is also able to withstand normal chewing forces.
In the case of a single tooth replacement, a dental implant stands alone. In comparison, a fixed permanent bridge needs to have crowns on neighboring teeth to support the pontic, or artificial crown. The process of placing those crowns requires the removal of healthy enamel and may ultimately weaken those adjacent teeth.
If you are facing tooth extraction or have already lost one of your permanent teeth, you should do thorough research on your tooth replacement options, including dental implants. Contact our team at Northern Texas Facial & Oral Surgery for more information and to schedule your consultation today.
How Dental Implants Can Reduce Long-term Dental Costs
10 May 2013 | No Comments | posted by admin | in dental implants
Dental implants represent the most modern tooth replacement technology that dentistry has to offer. A significant advance over past tooth replacement methods, the dental implant fuses with the bone, providing structural support underneath the gumline and becoming a permanent fixture in the mouth.
Dental implants are made of titanium, and after the oral surgeon inserts them into the jaw, they osseointegrate with the bone, offering stability and durability that is unmatched by alternatives like bridges and dentures. In fact, if you care for your implants as instructed, they can last for decades.
A significant shortcoming of bridges and dentures is that they do not replace the absent tooth root as dental implants do. Because no root is available to anchor the jaw, it will gradually wear away over time. This process leads to ill-fitting appliances that must be re-fitted or replaced periodically—at the patient’s expense and inconvenience.
Another important budget-friendly characteristic of dental implants is that they have no impact on surrounding teeth. Secured into the jaw, implants stand alone. A bridge, on the other hand, requires crowns to be placed on the adjacent teeth. This process necessitates that healthy enamel be removed from those teeth, which can compromise their integrity. Eventually, those teeth may need additional restorations or other treatments, increasing the cost to the patient.
Some patients may be tempted to postpone seeking dental implants for tooth loss because of the cost. This is not an advisable course of action, either. If the lost tooth is not replaced, not only will your smile’s appearance suffer, you also may risk further tooth loss as a result of jawbone atrophy.
Although bridges and dentures may appear to be less expensive than dental implants based on the initial costs, it’s important to consider the long-term expenses associated with each treatment option. You may find that the expenses are not as far apart as they seem at first.
To learn more about dental implant treatment, contact our skilled and dedicated team at Northern Texas Facial & Oral Surgery and schedule your informative consultation today.
Will I need to have teeth extracted prior to getting braces?
12 Apr 2013 | No Comments | posted by admin | in oral surgeon
Braces can help give patients the smile of their dreams, but in some cases, the appliances themselves may not be enough to achieve a patient’s aesthetic goals.
When planning for orthodontic treatment, some patients may need to consult with an oral surgeon in addition to keeping their regular appointments with the orthodontist.
Patients with severely crowded teeth or an excess number of teeth may need to have some of those teeth extracted in order to bring the teeth into the proper alignment. Tooth extraction may also be indicated to address an overbite or to create more room to accommodate teeth that protrude from the smile.
If a surgical extraction is recommended in a patient’s case, the oral surgeon and orthodontist will collaborate on the treatment plan and the timing of the surgery and fitting of the braces.
If you still have your wisdom teeth, you may want to have those extracted prior to getting braces, too. The wisdom teeth can continue to attempt to erupt, which can knock the teeth out of alignment and ruin the results of the years you spent in braces.
Adult patients undergoing orthodontic treatment may be more likely to need to have teeth removed before the braces are placed. Their facial bones have settled and cannot be manipulated as easily as those of younger patients to accommodate all of the teeth.
If a surgical extraction is recommended in a patient’s case, the oral surgeon and orthodontist will collaborate on the treatment plan and the timing of the surgery and fitting of the braces. In most cases, the oral surgery will take place in an outpatient setting, and patients can return to their normal routines within a few days, if not sooner.
Each patient’s case is unique, and your orthodontist can advise you on any recommendations to have teeth removed or other oral surgery as part of the orthodontic treatment process.
