At Neal C. Johnson DMD in Billings MT, we treat dental emergencies such as a knocked-out tooth. Patients who have suffered an injury that either knocks out a tooth or severely damages the tooth have a couple options for tooth replacement.
In today’s message, we will discuss a tooth replacement option we offer: dental bridges.
Dental bridges aren’t ideal
Dental bridges have provided a passable tooth replacement for many people, but they are not problem free.
Dental bridges are difficult to clean
Many Montana people with dental bridges find it problematic to keep the small areas around the bridge clean. It’s hard to get toothbrush bristles or dental floss under the bridge. If you have limited mobility, it’s almost impossible.
Without proper cleaning, dangerous bacteria has no trouble moving in and taking over. When the decay reaches the roots of the surrounding teeth, ouch! It’s not only painful, the person is at risk of losing those teeth.
A dental implant is superior to a dental bridge
That is one reason why a dental implant is superior to a dental bridge. Most Billings people with missing teeth are great candidates for dental implants.
A dental implant looks just like the beautiful tooth restoration on a high-quality dental bridge, but the vital part is what you don’t see.
A dental implant is screwed directly into the jaw bone. It is not attached to teeth like the dental bridges traditionally used in Billings.
A tooth implant is a more conservative replacement
In a way, an implant is a more conservative tooth replacement because it leaves the adjacent teeth intact. The bone and gum tissue mesh permanently with the titanium post that serves as the replacement tooth root.
Dental implants do not have the same risk of tooth decay as the teeth that anchor dental bridges. Of course, men and women with dental implants need to brush and floss, but cleaning a dental implant is usually no more difficult than cleaning a normal tooth.
Tooth implants have a better track record in Montana than dental bridges. With proper care, a dental implant can last a lifetime for smile-smart dental patients.
At Neal C. Johnson DMD in Billings MT, dental implant procedures can replace one or more teeth providing stability, beauty, and natural function. People from Lockwood, Billings Heights, and Laurel trust us for restorative dentistry as well as cosmetic and general dentistry. Contact us today.
Contact Neal C. Johnson DMD:
406-656-2700
Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):
176 S 32nd St W Ste 3
Billings, Montana
59102
