Feels Like Something Is Missing
If you have ever been without a tooth for whatever reason, you know the feeling of embarrassment that can come with it. Maybe you smile without opening your mouth, or casually cover your mouth with your hand while you speak to people. You might even start to use non-verbal expressions like head-nodding, hand waving, and shoulder-shrugging. Your bubbly and outgoing personality begins to wane as you turn inward with the shame of your gap-toothed smile.
Though you think that it might be easier for those with teeth missing in the back of the mouth, you’d be wrong. Eating becomes a challenge when you can only chew foods on one side, so you might start making excuses not to share meals with friends and start eating alone. And suddenly, you begin to feel like you really are alone just because you have let your much-needed dental work fall to the wayside.
Dentures? No Way.
When people think of replacing missing teeth, they often picture their grandmother and her oversized and very obviously false teeth. Or their grandfather who complained that the darned dentures hurt too much, so he never wore them. The thought of that is overwhelming and scary to most of us! If you haven’t been to the dentist in a while (and judging by your dilemma, we assume that you haven’t) you might not know about dental implants.
Tell Me More
Dental implants can replace one missing tooth, or several. The dentist will take a small, titanium implant, which looks like a very small screw, and place it into your jaw. This is a surgical procedure, but your dentist will be sure that you are completely numb and comfortable with a sedative to relax you. Placing the implant into the jawbone sounds painful, but most patients report that the procedure is entirely comfortable. After a period of healing, the implant will bond with the jawbone and the dentist will affix a very natural looking crown on top of the implant. You’ll have a brand-new tooth in place of an unsightly gap in no time. When multiple teeth are missing, implants can still be used, sometimes in addition to a bridge.
See The Dentist
Your dentist will be able to go over all of your options for tooth replacement based on your needs and preferences. Just like fingerprints, no two dental plans are alike and at Community Dental Group, we’ll decide on a plan that fits your own unique dental situation. Whatever your needs are, we can help you get back to verbally communicating again, going back out to dinner with friends, and smiling your brightest without being ashamed. Because that is really what it’s all about; joy, happiness, and confidence to live as you desire.