Your dentist’s goal is to keep your teeth healthy – all of your teeth. Unfortunately, there can be times when the only solution to a dental problem is for your dentist to extract your tooth. This can happen when a tooth has severe issues, as well as if there is a risk the bacteria from an infected tooth could spread and cause more problems. In other cases, a tooth that has lost support due to gum disease may need to be removed. After safely extracting your tooth, your dentist can talk to you about a prosthetic restoration. This will serve to replace what was lost, and help fully revive your oral health.
Your dentist can replace the tooth you lost with a lifelike prosthetic restoration. When you support a replacement tooth with a dental implant, you can enjoy a fully functional tooth that stays in place without requiring alteration to neighboring teeth. An implant is affixed to your jawbone, and acts like a replacement tooth root. Other people will have a dental bridge put in place – no oral surgery is required when it comes to having a dental bridge. Instead, the replacement tooth is connected between two crowns, which are placed on neighboring teeth.
Practicing good oral care means doing the necessary work to effectively clean your teeth at home, and seeing your dentist for regular appointments. When you stay on top of the needs of your teeth and gums, you can avoid complications with tooth decay or gum disease – complications that can lead to tooth loss.