Hi there, I was playing softball with my team last night, and one of my teeth got knocked out. I heard you were supposed to look for it and take it to the dentist right away, but we couldn’t find it. We even went back this morning and looked when it was light out, but no tooth. I was wondering does that mean I have to wear a fake tooth for the rest of my life? Someone said I could get a dental implant and that it would be just like getting my old tooth back, but is that really true? I really thought the only way to not have to hassle about it was if I found my old tooth.

Thanks for your time here.
Christopher, Camarillo

Hi Christopher,

Sorry to hear that you lost your tooth, but that doesn’t mean you’ll be “hassling” with a fake tooth for life! Dental implants are, in fact, very like having a natural tooth. And an implant is not your only option. So let’s take a look at the pros and cons of dental implants and bridges.

Dental implants are titanium or ceramic root forms that are surgically placed into your jawbone. As they heal, the body deposits more bone-building minerals around the forms, actually making them a part of the jawbone. Once this process is complete, a lifelike crown will be attached to the root form.

In a couple of important ways, an implant mimics a natural tooth.

  • First, the dental implant will look, feel, and function just like your other teeth. And
  • Second, because it replaces more than just the crown, a dental implant prevents the bone loss that always accompanies the loss of a tooth.

This bone loss happens because the body senses that the tooth is no longer there, and it begins to absorb the bone-building minerals that supported that tooth for use elsewhere in the body. That is why dental implants are becoming a standard treatment for lost teeth. However, dental implants involve more cost and healing time than dental bridges. Click here to read Anacapa Dental Art Institute page on the Benefits of Dental Implants.

In addition, dental implantology is not something most dentists studied in dental school, so it is very important to seek out a dentist or prosthodontist who has the requisite training and experience to place an implant for you. This is not the type of treatment you want to cut corners on, and the consequences seeking out cheap implants can be severe.

If you choose to have a dental bridge, the two teeth on either side of the gap will be prepared to receive crowns. This involves removing some of the surface of the tooth while leaving a solid structure to support the crown. Then a set of three crowns will be prepared, and the two outer ones will be fused to the one replacing the lost tooth. The drawing to the left illustrates what the bridge looks like and how the two outer teeth are prepared.

As you can see, the downside of choosing a bridge is that it requires the two nearest teeth to be altered in order to support the middle one, and if those two teeth are healthy, you may not want to do that. But a bridge will usually cost less than a dental implant. In addition, the skills for this type of treatment are taught as part of the curriculum in dental schools, so just about any dentist should be able to provide the service.

And finally, both treatments will provide a long-lasting, lifelike solution that nobody will be able to detect. Your Oxnard dentist can help you decide which treatment option is best in your particular situation. But either way, you won’t be in for life-long hassles. To know your option you can schedule complimentary consultation with Top Implant Dentist in Oxnard.

Schedule Your Own Private Consultation with Dr. J

Anacapa Dental Art Institute is proud of their dedicated service to Ventura County. Lead by world-renowned top cosmetic prosthodontist Dr. Jivraj and his expert staff, Anacapa has the expertise and facility to handle whatever your cosmetic dental situation may be. Whether it’s a tooth whitening or a full mouth reconstruction, expect nothing but some of the best dental care Ventura County has available.

Call today for a private consultation. Renew your smile, renew your life.

ABOUT YOUR OXNARD, CA, COSMETIC DENTIST:

We look forward to providing families with exceptional care and advanced treatment options. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Jivraj contact our Oxnard, CA, dental office today by calling 805-800-8289. Our office at 2821 N Ventura Road, Building H, Oxnard, 93036 welcomes patients in and around Oxnard, CA, including Santa Barbara, Woodland Hills, Ventura, and the surrounding Southern California communities.

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