Heart Health: Don't Neglect Dental Care

Dental implants are a fairly popular form of tooth replacement, but they're not for everyone. If you've been told that your bone isn't strong enough for dental implants, this is why, and what you can do instead to get an equally good method of replacement for your teeth.

Learn Why It's a Problem

Dental implants aren't just supported by your gums. They match the length of real teeth, which means that they go do all the way down to the bone. When this happens, the bone grows new cells around the implant, securing it. However, if the bone doesn't actually come into contact with the implant because of thinning bones or because the bone is too weak to support it, a dentist will turn you down for dental implants, as they could fail.

Consider the Alternative

The good news is, dental implants are far from the only replacement option out there. One other that you might want to consider is a dental bridge.

Dental bridges are a great option for people considering dental implants. Bridges are designed to use two of your remaining teeth as anchors to support one or more artificial teeth in-between. This ensures that there's no gaps between your teeth and that no one can tell that you have artificial replacements.

Discover Why Bridges Work Well Even With Bone Loss

The main reason why dental bridge services are a good choice for you is because they can be used regardless of your bone density. Dental bridges rely on healthy teeth, not healthy jaw bones, to work. So if you have existing dental implants or just healthy remaining teeth, they can be utilized as the anchor on either side of the dental bridge.

Know What To Expect

Getting a dental bridge is a fairly easy process. Your dentist will perform an examination and x-rays to ensure that your surrounding teeth are healthy. From there, they'll take measurements to create a custom bridge for you. This not only ensures that the bridge fits comfortably and snugly, but the process also makes sure that the artificial teeth on the bridge are of equal size and shape with your remaining teeth.

Once your bridge is ready, your dentist will put it on. This typically doesn't require anesthesia, as it's a generally painless process. Once your bridge is in place, you can go back to eating normally right away. Consult with your dentist to find out if there are any specific foods that you should limit or avoid.