A missing, misshapen or broken tooth can ruin your smile as well as your overall appearance. It may also lead to problems in speaking, biting, and chewing. Replacing it is often necessary to rectify these problems. The branch of dentistry that deals with such problems and their treatment is known as Prosthodontics. If your dental problem regarding missing tooth or teeth hinders your regular life, you need to visit a dental clinic for the necessary treatment. Before you decide to visit a dentist, you need to find an answer to this common question: Which treatments come under this branch of dentistry? Here is a quick overview of the common dental treatments that come within this scope:

 

Dentures and dental bridges: The traditional treatment for missing teeth is dentures. In this treatment, false teeth are fixed in place of the missing teeth. However, the difficulty is using these as well as keeping them clean made people look for alternatives. Dental bridges proved to be that viable alternative. If you have one or more missing teeth, this treatment could be useful to you. The procedure involves preparing the teeth on either side of the gap and placing the artificial crowns over these. A false tooth is adjusted to the crowns, adjustments are done and the whole setup is cemented in place.

 

Crowns: Whether it is to restore functionality or rectify appearance, dental crowns work as easy and effective solutions. Which situations require the use of this treatment? The crowns come in useful for patients with complaints like misshapen or fractured teeth, teeth that underwent root canal treatment, discoloured or stained teeth and teeth with large fillings. The crowns are made from metal, porcelain or a combination of the two. The natural look and colour of the crowns make it difficult to distinguish them from the original, making it a preferred choice among patients.

 

Dental implants: This treatment is a better alternative as it offers a more long lasting solution for replacing missing teeth. The fixtures, usually made from titanium, are surgically placed into the jawbones and given time to heal. These fixtures may or may not have threads. After the spot is healed and the implant is set in place, an abutment is placed over the implant to secure the tooth in place and a crown is placed over it to give it the appearance of a natural tooth. Dental implants cost is a little higher than other treatments; however, the advantages outweigh the cost.

 

The success of the prosthodontic treatments depend on certain factors, including the patient’s overall health condition, dental health condition, and dental hygiene habits. Another factor that is of considerable importance in affecting the success of the dental treatment is the dentist of your choice. Your general dentist can recommend a specialist when you need to have any such treatment. Enquire about the knowledge and experience of the dentist before you get an appointment for an initial check-up. The initial appointment would give you an idea about whether you would feel comfortable getting the necessary treatment from the dentist.

 

 

Author Bio

 

Daniel Smith is an orthodontic expert. He provides tips and suggestions regarding the cosmetic dentistry procedures that can help rectify your appearance. If you were looking for prosthodontic treatments like dental crowns, bridges, implants and so on, he suggests you to visit http://www.oldquarterdental.ie/ for additional details.

 

Summary

 

If a missing tooth makes it difficult for you to smile in public, you need to get the right prosthodontic treatment for replacing this.