subject: How Your Dentist Can Help Save Or Replace Your Severely Decayed Tooth [print this page] Years of neglect to your oral health can cause a variety of dental problems. If your tooth becomes severely decayed, your dentist may need to perform a root canal or you may lose the tooth entirely. When this happens, you do not need to panic; your dentist has several effective options to replace your missing tooth. Talk to your dentist immediately if you think you may need a tooth replacement procedure and he will be able to give you an accurate diagnosis.
Root Canal Therapy
If your tooth is severely decayed, your dentist may be able to save it from being extracted with a root canal procedure. To perform a root canal, your dentist will begin by drilling a small hole into the center of your tooth. Using special tools, he or she will clear out all of the infected material from inside your tooth. After this, the inside will be sealed and a filling will be used to cover the access hole. Once this is complete, your dentist will then generally install a dental crown on top of your tooth to stabilize your tooth. This is because the combination of severe decay and the root canal procedure itself can make your tooth very unstable.
Dental Implants
If you do lose a tooth, the longest lasting replacement option you have is to utilize a dental implant. A dental implant is a replacement tooth root that is directly installed into the bone socket of a missing tooth and attached to your jawbone. Once an implant is put in, it acts as an anchor for a dental crown that will replace your missing tooth. Once the titanium implant is securely fastened to your jawbone, you will need to wait between six and twelve weeks for your gums to heal around the implant. After this, an impression will be taken to create a dental crown, which your dentist will finally attach to the dental implant to complete the procedure. Once put in, a dental implant can last 25 years or an entire lifetime.
Dental Bridges
Another popular way to replace a missing tooth is to use a dental bridge. A bridge is an artificial replacement tooth that is held in place on either side by dental crowns. To put a bridge in, your dentist will begin by reducing the two teeth that will receive crowns. An impression will then be taken of the area and sent to a dental lab. Once the permanent bridge arrives, your dentist will permanently cement it into place to complete the dental bridge procedure.
To learn more about your dentist's options to deal with tooth loss or to schedule an appointment, contact your dentist in Carlsbad as soon as you can.
