Dental health is vital

Not Just Dentures: Other Dental Solutions to Consider

by Felecia Butler

For many people, the dental surgery can be an intimidating place—but really, there's no reason to feel that way.  Modern dentistry uses clever, comfortable solutions that can really improve not only the look of your smile, but also your quality of life.  Although for many people, dental repair work begins and ends with dentures and orthodontic braces, that's not the case.  There are plenty of other solutions that can protect and repair missing or damaged teeth.  Here are just a couple.

Crowns

A crown is a permanent, fitted cap that sits over your tooth to protect it from damage or decay or just for cosmetic reasons to improve the look of your smile.  They're very multi-purpose solutions, and your dentist may recommend one for a wide variety of situations.  Crowns can be metallic in colour, but many dentists now also offer porcelain and ceramic crowns that are matched to the colour of your teeth and are therefore less noticeable in your mouth.

Bridges

Bridges fill gaps in your mouth left by missing teeth.  They are designed to look like regular teeth, and so they are not at all noticeable in your mouth. They tend to be attached to your mouth via crowns fitted to your neighbouring teeth.  They are permanent and non-removable; once the dentist has fitted your bridge, only they will be able to remove it again should you so choose it.

Both crowns and bridges are comfortable and will not affect the way you eat or speak.  In fact, once you've had them fitted and gotten used to the new shape in your mouth, you will likely forget they are in place.  This is what makes them so good for repairs and cosmetic improvements; they're low-maintenance solutions which don't require any lifestyle changes or major dental work.  In fact, they can be fitted in the space of minutes—and for those who feel squeamish about dental work, rest assured that they're absolutely painless.

As for downsides to crowns and bridges—well, there are very few.  The only real risk is that they may, through wear and tear, become loose and need to be re-fitted—but again, this is a very minor and simple procedure that your dentist will be able to do for you in a matter of minutes.  Realistically, the only impact they can have on your life is a positive one—and you'll wonder why it took you so long to book an appointment to get that gap filled or that weak tooth protected.  Be sure to see your dentist for more information and a fitting.

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