Dental implant technology tooth extractions aftercare continues to advance and the new generation of dental implants and surfaces have made them more predictable. The surgeon is usually the specialist who also performs the extraction of the tooth. It is ideal to place the implant at the time of tooth extraction. The extraction socket can be prepared to receive the implant, which speeds up the process and saves the patient months in the healing process.
Proper surgical planning and anticipating the size of the extraction socket is very important in selecting the proper implant size that can be placed. Once the dental implant is safely placed in the socket, any areas of bone deficiency are augmented with bone graft material. The surgery area is secured by dental barrier membranes that are made up of resorbable collagen and sutures are placed. Each patient heals differently, however, the implant and bone graft usually heal within 3 months and the dental restoration can be placed at that time.
The science of bone grafting has also advanced as newer materials, such as synthetic bone, can be used to graft large areas of the patient’s mouth. These materials can be used in sinus lifts and sinus preparation to receive dental implants. There is also the human bone that is obtained and has gone through a strict sterilization process.
What are my restoration options when I need a tooth extracted?
Loss of a permanent adult tooth due to trauma or infection can create serious problems. When a tooth is lost, not only does it affect appearance, but adjacent teeth and overall oral function can be hampered. Addressing the problem early is the best way to avoid future problems. When a tooth needs to be extracted, it is best to speak with your dentist about the options available to replace the missing tooth or teeth.
Expenses, time, and oral function should be considered when reviewing treatment options for restoring a missing tooth. Before removing the tooth, in addition to aesthetics or personal appearance, the cost and time tooth extractions aftercare required to restore a missing tooth should be evaluated. A recommendation for a dental bridge or dental implant is often presented. After a complete dental examination has been performed, each of these procedures should be considered based on its individual merits and the personal circumstances of each individual.
A dental bridge to restore a missing tooth not only affects the area where the tooth was extracted but adjacent or neighboring teeth will be involved in the restoration process. Since the adjacent teeth will be crowned, one must deliberate on the impact of crowning the adjacent teeth. Oftentimes, if the neighboring teeth are “virgin” teeth (meaning they do not have any dental restorations), the idea and process of removing tooth structure are generally neither ideal nor desirable; however, if neighboring teeth need restorations, this treatment option becomes more suitable or appropriate.
Generally, a single dental implant will restore the missing tooth without affecting the adjacent teeth. Since a dental implant affects only the local site, the implant procedure is often considered the most ideal treatment. If a dental implant is desired, when the tooth is extracted, it is best to place a bone material at the socket site to minimize loss of bone structure for future implant placement. The bone material will require several months to heal. After a suitable healing time, a dental implant is placed in the bone. Again, several months of healing are required for the implant to integrate into the bone. Eventually, the dental implant can be restored with an implant crown.
When an extracted tooth is replaced with a bridge or dental implant, future problems of missing teeth can be avoided. Tooth displacement, misalignment, and hyper-eruption of opposing teeth can be prevented so that proper occlusion and function can be maintained. If multiple teeth are missing, there is also the option of replacing those teeth with a partial denture. Although a partial denture is a removable appliance rather than a fixed unit such as a bridge or implant, it offers a treatment option when multiple teeth are missing.
Evaluating all treatment options and asking the dentist to answer questions about treatment is a great way to make wise decisions. Understanding the risks and benefits of dental treatments helps ensure that the best result can be achieved.
Kendall Wood received her Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska. Kendall is a member of the American Dental Association, the Oregon Dental Association, the South Willamette Dental Society, the American Dental Society of Anesthesiology, and the American Academy of Implant Dentistry.
She has completed the OHSU OBI II training course, moderate intravenous sedation, and maxi-implant course. Kendall has completed Part I of the American Academy of Implant Dentistry Fellowship Exam and is currently working to complete Part II of her Implant Fellowship Credentials. For more information on this topic and many other dental health topics, visit her dental practice website.
Have all of your teeth been removed to make room for dentures?
Some people have all their teeth extracted and dentures are inserted when most of the teeth need to be extracted. However, some dentists believe that if you have recoverable teeth, you should try to save them. Even if you only have one pair of teeth left, these can be used to help provide stability for partial dentures. Before all your teeth are removed, make sure it is really necessary.
Partial plates often cost as much as a full denture; however, it is to your advantage to keep your teeth as healthy as possible. While many people assume that all teeth should be removed when most of them are decayed, this is not always the case. There are times when a dentist may not want to try to anchor a partial plaque to a tooth because it is not strong enough, but it is a possibility that you should definitely check.
A partial denture is anchored to natural teeth with a metal clasp. You may need more than one partial denture, depending on the location and number of teeth remaining. It is still preferable to keep your teeth healthy, even if they are far apart.
Talk to your dentist to see whether or not you are a candidate for partial dentures and compare the costs. However, whenever possible, try to keep as many teeth as healthy as possible. You will surely be grateful that you did.
Broken Denture Repair for New Denture Users
Many people do not like the space that missing teeth have left in their smiles. Sometimes it is also difficult to speak and chew easily if teeth are missing. Dentures can help solve all three of these problems. Dentures are replacement teeth that can eliminate the space left by missing teeth and can improve the wearer’s ability to speak and chew normally.
Since dentures are removable, accidents are likely to happen. Fortunately, the necessary denture repairs are not as difficult as most people think. The following paragraphs detail the two different types of dentures available, the process of getting used to wearing dentures, and what a person should do when they need a broken denture repair.
Full dentures and partial dentures
There are two types of dentures, full dentures, and partial dentures. Both types are likely to be damaged at some point, requiring denture repairs. The main difference between the two types of dentures is that full dentures replace all the natural teeth in a person’s mouth, while partial dentures only replace a few missing teeth in a person’s mouth. A person who still has some healthy natural teeth will receive partial dentures. A person with no remaining healthy teeth receives full dentures.
There are two different types of full dentures. A person receives conventional full dentures after their gums have healed after all of their natural teeth have been removed. Gums generally heal after a full-mouth tooth extraction in about twelve weeks, depending on the person.
A person receives immediate full dentures, the second type of full denture, immediately after the extraction of a full mouth tooth. Immediate dentures allow a person to have a full denture after full tooth extraction without having to wait twelve weeks while their gums heal. The downside to immediate dentures is that the gums normally shrink a bit during the healing process, requiring several size corrections in immediate dentures.
Attached to a plastic base the same color as the gum tissue, partial dentures are supported by a metal frame that sits on the person’s surrounding natural teeth. Partial dentures can fill a gap left by missing teeth and can prevent other teeth from repositioning or moving. Regardless of the type, any denture may eventually need a broken denture repair, especially if it is cracked, fallen, or damaged.
Getting used to wearing dentures
Most people find them uncomfortable when wearing dentures for the first time. Many times, people associate this discomfort with their dentures being damaged and in need of repair. Actually, the usual reason for this uncomfortable discomfort is simply because the use of dentures is new and sometimes they are a little ill-fitting or loose.
Also, a person needs to wear their dentures for a while so that their mouth and muscles can get used to holding the dentures in place. This helps eliminate the feeling that they are slipping. Sometimes a person’s tongue also feels restricted and sore from rubbing against the new dentures. Most people report that it takes a few weeks to feel comfortable eating and talking while wearing new dentures.
Broken denture repair
Many people accidentally damage their dentures during the first few weeks of wear, requiring repairs. Usually, this is due to people falling off their dentures when removing them. This type of damage usually results in cracks, fissures, chips, and even tooth breakage. Denture damage is common, even with careful denture users. Accidents do happen and because dentures are a vital component of daily life, people should keep a denture repair service in mind before facing a denture emergency. This can help a person avoid long periods while waiting for denture repair.
