A few of the more serious dental problems can require the extraction of any severely damaged teeth. For instance, a cavity can spread into the dentin to the point that the shell of the tooth is not salvageable forcing the dentist to pull it. Unfortunately, this can create a number of other issues including loosening and shifting of the surrounding teeth. Experts, like those at Dakota Dental & Implant Center, want to avoid these issues whenever possible and recommend the placement of an artificial tooth when an extraction is necessary. Replacement teeth can be dentures, bridges or dental implants.
A Dental Implant in Eagan MN begins with replacing the root of the tooth. This step requires a strong material that will not affect the bone or gum tissue. However, the material also needs to be capable of bonding with the jawbone and the best option for this is titanium. In fact, an anchor made from titanium can help stimulate bone growth. This is much better than the loss of bone tissue that occurs when teeth are missing. One aspect of the jawbone that the dentist will need to check is its thickness. Thin jawbone areas may not be strong enough to support the pressure that occurs when biting or chewing. The dentist can avoid this issue with grafting. That is, they will layer small portions of donor bone tissue over the weak area and give the jaw time to heal.
The use of a Dental Implant in Eagan MN is not just for the replacement of single tooth. These artificial roots are the perfect solution to anchor dental devices such as a bridge or denture. Bridges are used when several teeth are missing, and the prosthesis is usually secured by anchoring it to any surrounding teeth. This can cause a few problems. Any teeth used to secure the bridge will need some shaping to make room for the anchor itself, which exposes the dentin to decay. Plus, the bridge can slip a little and make talking or eating difficult. Securing a bridge with implants can eliminate these concerns. Anchoring a denture is a similar task, but this dental device will usually require four studs to hold it securely in place.
