Turn that frown upside down

Tooth loss doesn't have to stop you from smiling - an implant or bridge can restore your smile back to its youthful appearance.  Dental implants and bridges are two of the most common tooth-replacement solutions in cosmetic dentistry.  In addition to improving aesthetics, both solutions also help to prevent additional tooth loss.

Implants provide a fixed strutcture for crowns to replace missing teeth.  They look, feel, and function like natural teeth, and they preserve the surrounding teeth.

If your gum tissue and bone are healthy, you may be a good candidate for implants.  Implants are metal posts that are placed under your gums into the dental bone.  Eventually, an implant fuses with the jaw bone and serves as an artificial tooth root.  A replacement tooth is then attached to the implant.

Bridges are either fixed or removable.  They fit your bite and match the color of surrounding teeth and they prevent the remaining teeth from shifting.

If you have a single missing tooth surrounded by teeth with large silver fillings, a bridge may work best for you.  To create a bridge, crowns are placed on the teeth surrounding the missing tooth, and then a third crown is placed in the gap.

In either case, Bridges or Implants can put that smile back on your face and self confidence back in your stride.

For more information on Bridges and Implants, visit http://DrTav.com.