OralTalkWithMariam

 How Does a Dental Bridge Replace a Missing Tooth? Patients Ask Series: Part 4 By Mariam from OralTalkWithMariam 💙 A dental bridge fills the gap left by a missing tooth with an artificial tooth. Depending on the type of bridge, it can get its support from your neighbouring teeth or from dental implants placed in your jawbone. This support keeps your bridge fixed in place, which means it stays in your mouth while you clean around and underneath it. The way a dental bridge is supported can affect what happens to the teeth around the gap. I'll explain how the different types of dental bridges work, what the procedure may involve and what your dentist checks before recommending one. What Is a Dental Bridge? A dental bridge is a fixed replacement for one or more missing teeth. It includes an artificial tooth to replace what is missing and support to hold it in place. The replacement tooth (pontic):  This is the artificial tooth that takes the place of your missing natural too...

What Are Dental Implants and How Do They Replace Missing Teeth? Patients Ask Series: Part 3 By Mariam from OralTalkWithMariam  Hey Smile Squad! 😁 A dental implant is a small post placed in your jawbone to support a replacement tooth. The post is usually made of titanium and shaped like a screw. For one missing tooth, a crown can be attached to the implant after a period of healing. Dental implants may also support a bridge or denture when several teeth are missing.In Part 2 of the Patients Ask series , we looked at how your jawbone may change after a tooth is removed. Because an implant relies on your jawbone for support, your dentist will need to examine the area before deciding whether implant treatment is suitable for you. What Are the Parts of a Dental Implant? A completed dental implant replacement usually has three main parts: the implant post that sits beneath your gum, the abutment that connects the post to the replacement, and the replacement tooth or teeth that you ...

What Happens to Your Jawbone After a Tooth Is Removed?  Patients Ask Series: Part 2 By Mariam from OralTalkWithMariam  Hey Smile Squad! 😁 After a tooth is removed, the jawbone in that area begins to change as the extraction site heals. The bone that once supported your tooth may gradually become narrower and shorter. How much it changes differs from person to person, but it may affect your options if you decide to replace the tooth later. In Part 1 of the Patients Ask series , we looked at whether every missing tooth needs to be replaced and what may happen around the gap. This time, we are looking beneath the gum to understand what happens to your jawbone after a tooth extraction. Your gum may appear healed before the changes beneath it are easy to notice. Because changes in the bone may not be easy to see or feel, you may assume that the entire extraction area has finished healing. Why Does the Jawbone Shrink After Tooth Extraction? Your jawbone may shrink after tooth ...

I Already Removed the Tooth. Do I Really Need to Replace It?  Patients Ask Series: Part 1 By Mariam from OralTalkWithMariam  Hey Smile Squad!😁 Not every missing tooth needs to be replaced. Your dentist will consider which tooth was removed and examine how the gap affects the surrounding teeth. This assessment will help your dentist decide if tooth replacement is recommended. At the clinic, I often hear patients ask why they need to replace a tooth that has already been removed. The pain has stopped, and they can finally sleep again. That relief can make tooth replacement seem unnecessary because the extraction has solved the problem they could feel. Tooth extraction may remove the immediate source of pain or infection, but changes can still develop around the gap even when the area feels fine.  What Happens If a Missing Tooth Is Not Replaced? Nearby Teeth May Move Into the Gap If a missing tooth is not replaced, the teeth beside the gap may slowly move towards ...