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Booking my dentist by smartphone app

I love that my family dentist is tech-savvy. It's so easy to book a dentist on his smartphone app if I have a tooth problem or if anyone in my family needs emergency problems (I can choose either my normal dentist or another dentist in his practise depending on availability). He also has some great cameras so that we can see exactly what is going on during treatment. I prefer not to see this, but my kids love to be able to see the dentist using his specialised tools to clean and repair their teeth. This blog has some tips on finding a tech-savvy dentist to help give your family the best possible dental care.

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Booking my dentist by smartphone app

How A Dentist Can Replace Missing Teeth

by Jeff Rivera

For any number of reasons, many people have missing teeth. Not only is this a problem that can affect one's self-esteem, it can also cause dental problems that are even more serious. For instance, when there are gaps from missing teeth, the surrounding healthy teeth can move closer together. This affects one's bite, and can cause headaches. When you have missing teeth, you need to discuss the various tooth replacement options with a dentist in your area.

Tooth Replacement Options

There are a few different procedures that dentists can use in order to replace missing teeth. The option a patient chooses will depend on a number of factors, including how many teeth are missing, how healthy their gums are, and what they can afford to pay. The three options that most cosmetic dentists recommend are:

  • Bridges – These are dental prostheses that are used to replace one or more missing teeth, but not for total tooth replacement. The surrounding teeth receive crowns, and the bridge is anchored onto these teeth. This is the least expensive solution for missing teeth. There are three types of bridges: traditional, which are made from porcelain or ceramics; cantilever bridges, which are used when there is only one tooth adjacent to the missing tooth (generally in the back of the mouth); and Maryland bonded bridges, which are bonded to the surrounding teeth and are not removable.
  • Dentures – If many teeth are missing, the dentist may recommend that the patient have a denture made. This is a process that can take up to a year if dental surgery is required. The patient will receive a temporary denture until their mouth heals, and then will be fitted for their regular denture. This involves the dentist making impressions of the mouth, and then creating a complete new set of false teeth from the impressions. Today's dentures are natural looking, and only the person who has them will know that they are wearing them.
  • Implants – The most popular form of tooth replacement—and also the most expensive—is the dental implant. This involves creating a new tooth that is secured to a titanium post. The post is inserted directly into the gum and jaw, and the implants are permanent. This is a procedure that can take many months to complete, as the posts must be inserted and the mouth fully healed before the teeth can be added.

The best way to avoid having missing teeth is to take care of them and to receive regular dental care. But anything can happen, including accidents that can cause people to lose teeth. It is nice to know that there are a few options for replacement.

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