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.
Being involved in a serious car crash is something every driver dreads, and even if you survive a high-speed traffic accident, some of the damage done to your body may be permanent. Damaged or destroyed front teeth are a particularly common injury sustained in car accidents. Even if the crash itself doesn't damage your incisors, the power of most modern airbags can easily knock several front teeth out of your mouth, especially if you already had weakened teeth or receding gums.
Since your incisors are the most easily visible teeth in your mouth, missing or badly damaged front teeth can mar your smile and have a big impact on your self-confidence, especially when you have a large gap caused by losing several adjacent teeth.
Fortunately, there are a number of dental procedures at your disposal to replace the affected teeth. Conventionally, dental bridges were used to replace multiple missing teeth, but more and more car crash victims are turning to dental implants to fill in the gaps in their smile. While having dental implants fitted is more expensive and time-consuming than having a dental bridge fitted, they have numerous advantages over bridges that make them well worth the investment.
Why should I choose dental implants instead of bridges to replace my missing front teeth?
Long-term durability
A dental bridge essentially consists of a single, long piece of material (usually porcelain or composite plastics bonded to metal), which is shaped to look like natural teeth and is supported by the remaining natural teeth on either side of the gap. While they are durable enough, they rely entirely on the strength of the supporting natural teeth, and longer dental bridges replacing multiple missing teeth frequently snap in the middle at their weakest point.
Dental implants are much more durable because they are screwed directly into your jawbone, while their artificial 'roots' are supported by your gums in much the same way as your real front teeth once were. This makes them exceptionally tough and durable — if your dental implants are fitted by a reputable dental surgeon, they can be expected to last for several decades before replacements or repairs become necessary. You will not have to avoid eating hard foods and can engage in sports and other physical activities with confidence.
Low maintenance
Dental implants also require significantly less maintenance than dental bridges and can be treated in much the same way as normal teeth. Dental bridges generally have to be removed and cleaned on a regular basis to prevent food matter from building up beneath their bases, and they often have to be reshaped (or completely remade) if the supporting teeth sustain damage or your gums recede (a common side effect of ill-fitting bridges). Dental implants are never removed and can be cleaned thoroughly with ordinary toothbrushes and floss.
Do not damage your remaining teeth
Because dental bridges are supported by your remaining natural teeth, the supporting teeth have to be specially prepared and shaped to accommodate them. This results in a significant amount of enamel loss and can leave the supporting teeth vulnerable to damage and infection. Installing dental implants will not affect your remaining natural teeth in any way.
More convincing
However, the main reason people are choosing implants to replace multiple teeth is that they simply look more like natural teeth than bridges. Because they do not have a metal core, they have a colour and slight translucency that makes them look almost identical to real teeth, even under close inspection. As you can imagine, this level of realism can be a significant boon for your self-image if you are recovering from a traffic accident.
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