Your Norman dentist, Dr. Bobby J. Carmen, excels at preventive dentistry. Hygienic ceanings, comprehensive examinations, mouthguards and more keep teeth and gums healthy and attractive. Sometimes, though, tooth decay, gum disease and even tooth and bone loss occur. When you lose a tooth through an unfortunate circumstance, what replacement option should you choose: Norman bridgework or a dental implant?
Fixed bridgework
Bridgework does just what its name implies–it “bridges” the gap left by one or more missing teeth. Usually comprised of a false tooth, or pontic, and Norman dental crowns anchored to adjacent teeth, fixed bridgework is a stable, long-lasting and durable tooth replacement option.
On the downside, traditional bridgework requires the Norman dentist to shave down the neighboring teeth so they receive dental crowns. The pontic attaches to the dental crowns.
Other bridgework options include the Maryland bridge, bonded with metal wings to the backside of neighboring teeth. Cantilever bridgework anchors to teeth on only one side of the appliance. Plus, implant-supported bridgework is a fixed restoration inserted permanently in the jawbone with titanium dental implant devices.
Traditional bridgework has a lifespan of about 10 years, and the implant-supported kind lasts indefinitely. Patients must perform good at-home hygiene daily and get to Dr. Carmen every 6 months for check-ups and professional cleanings.
Norman dental implants
When a patient loses one or more teeth, he has a wonderful replacement option called dental implants. For patients with good oral and overall health, dental implants are the longest-lasting, more secure and most natural-looking and feeling artificial teeth available.
As part of his ongoing pursuit of the best dental techniques available, Dr. Carmen finished the Misch International Implant Institute. He is highly qualified to place these modern artificial teeth during a simple in-office surgery.
If a patient has sufficiently dense jaw bone, Dr. Carmen inserts the titanium device below the gum line. He sutures the gums closed and, after many weeks of healing and implant integration to the patient’s jaw, he re-opens the site to affix a metal alloy extension post. The post accepts a Norman porcelain dental crown that is lifelike in function and appearance.
Dental implants feature tremendous longevity. In fact, with good at-home and in-office hygiene, they should be the only tooth replacement the patient requires. Contrast this to other options, such as bridgework or partial dentures, which last only 7 to 10 years and do nothing to preserve the integrity of the jawbone.
Which should you choose?
Bobby J. Carmen DDS carefully evaluates his restorative dentistry patients. Along with bridgework and dental implants, he provides CEREC one-visit crowns, tooth-colored fillings, inlays, onlays and endodontics for the healthiest, most complete smile possible. There is a full menu of cosmetic dentistry treatments, too. Contact Dr. Carmen’s dedicated staff today for a consultation today!