When you lose a tooth, you face a decision. Implant dentistry offers Tacoma residents an exciting alternative worth investigating. What do you know about your options?
Perhaps you’ve considered bridging the gap. This procedure requires the teeth adjacent to the missing tooth to be ground down in order to accommodate capping. The caps support the “bridge” (which is a false tooth held in place on your gum’s surface) and it can function much like a regular tooth.
The disadvantage is, over time the ridge of gum beneath your bridge will begin to shrink. Why? A bridge may fill the gap above the gum line, but ignores everything below. In the past, roots pushed through layers of tissue in order to anchor your tooth to your jawbone. With all the support now above the surface, your body senses there is no reason to maintain the system below and consequently reabsorbs it. The evidence will be a shrinking gum line with a less-than-snug fit between the bridge and gum tissue. Any gap there presents a danger as food particles and bacteria can become trapped and cause infection.
Is there a dental procedure that can better mimic the body’s natural system of maintaining structure both above and below the gum line? Yes! Dental implants are designed to do just that. A “root” system is installed to act as both an anchor and to stimulate continued bone and tissue growth. Attached to that root-like anchor is a restoration that closely resembles a natural tooth in every way. Besides providing a durable chewing surface, it prevents adjacent teeth from navigating out of position.
Consult Dr. Egger for more information regarding implant dentistry for Tacoma area residents and discover where your best smile lays!
