Do Glendale area residents have an alternative to dental crowns and bridges?
Some dentists get the necessary schooling and license, and then take only the minimum continuing education required to stay in practice. In general they are pretty good dentists. Some dentists make an initial investment in training and equipment, and amortize it over the life of the practice. It probably serves them well. Dr. Sameet Koppikar takes a different approach to dentistry – on that he feels betters serves the needs of his patients in Glendale, Phoenix, and surrounding areas. His philosophy is to provide current methods and technologies for optimal oral health, including an alternative to conventional dental crowns and bridges.
Crowns and bridges are sound general dentistry
There’s really nothing wrong with a fixed bridge to restore a tooth that is missing, or up to three consecutive missing teeth. A bridge consists of a pontic or artificial tooth in framework attached to two porcelain crowns. Teeth on either side of the gap in your smile are reduced (ground down) to hold the crowns, anchoring the artificial tooth in place.
With good oral hygiene, including a special flossing technique to keep soft tissues clean underneath, a crown and bridge unit can last ten years; possibly longer. It keeps other teeth from shifting out of position, and restores appearance and the majority of chewing function. However, the bridge requires alteration of otherwise healthy teeth, and places strain on those anchor teeth over time.
A better alternative exists for most patients.
The next generation of tooth replacement
A dental implant is a tiny screw made of a strong, biocompatible material. It is placed into the jaw bone through a minute incision, at the site of a missing tooth. Dental implant surgery is precisely pre-planned using three-dimensional images of your mouth, and can be computer-guided in complex cases. Results are incredibly predictable.
Over the course of a few months, bone tissue fuses with the implant, providing a solid base for a beautiful porcelain dental crown. With normal good oral hygiene, an implant lasts a lifetime.
There’s an additional benefit to restoring a missing tooth with a dental implant. Jaw bone gets stimulation from the roots of teeth, each time you bite down. Without that natural stimulation, bone begins to deteriorate, impacting appearance. A dental implant replicates the root of a tooth to maintain strong, healthy bone density.
In this age of modern dentistry, there’s no need to let a missing tooth compromise your smile and your enjoyment of food. Call Biltmore Dental Center today at (602) 714 2223 to find out if you are a candidate for a dental implant or a crown and bridge unit.
