My name is Jamie Turner and when I turned 22, I started to form a horrible case of acne. I used every cleanser and lotion I could find and I even asked my physician for a topical steroid cream to clear up the zits on my face. After six months of treatment, my physician completed a blood test that concluded that a hormone imbalance was causing my acne. I started on therapy to control the amount of estrogen my body produced. The therapy along with a good diet and exercise regimen helped to clear up my acne. I am sharing my story, because acne is not just a condition that affects teenagers. It can affect adults at any age, and it can cause a great deal of embarrassment. Don't let your acne go untreated. Read my blog instead and learn about both natural and medical treatments that can help you.
If a tooth is lost, should you replace it? Most people would like to replace a tooth that is located near the front of their mouth because it affects the way that they look when they smile or speak. However, even if a tooth, such as a molar, is not readily visible, replacement should still be considered. Here are a few reasons why you should consider replacing a lost tooth with a dental implant:
Bone Density
Each time you eat a meal or chew a piece of gum, the bone cells of your jaw are stimulated to produce more cells. When too little stimulation is received, the jawbone atrophies, and bone density becomes inadequate to support the teeth. People with insufficient bone density may notice that their teeth become loose in their sockets.
When you lose a tooth, there is no pressure applied to the jawbone at the site where the lost tooth once was. However, when a dental implant is placed, it is inserted into the jawbone. Thus, the jawbone continues to receive stimulation as the implant is used for chewing.
After dental implant surgery, the wound is allowed to heal. During the healing process, which is known as osseointegration, the implant screw fuses with the bone cells of the jaw. This fusion process occurs over a period of about 2 to 4 months. After that time, a dental crown can be affixed to the implant using an abutment. Each time the implant patient chews, the bite force is transferred from the dental crown to the implanted screw to the jaw bone for simulation.
Dental Migration
When the gap caused by a missing tooth is left unfilled, the teeth around the gap can begin to shift out of position. The tooth that was lost served as a placeholder by preventing adjacent teeth from migrating.
When a missing tooth is replaced by a dental implant, the implant fills the gap to help hold nearby teeth in place. Dental misalignment takes place over time. The sooner the missing tooth is replaced, the less opportunity remaining natural teeth have to shift.
Misalignments can be costly and time-consuming to correct. Traditional braces usually cost between $3,000 and $7,000, and the orthodontic treatment may take months to complete.
If you have a missing tooth, regardless of its location in your mouth, you may want to have it replaced. For more information, contact Joe Rosenberg, DDS or a similar dental professional.
Share2 February 2016
