There are many reasons you might get a tooth extracted. The one you may be the most familiar with is, of course, wisdom tooth extraction. After you remove wisdom teeth, however, there’s nothing left to do. If you have a tooth removed for other reasons, such as it’s broken, cracked, infected, or dead, you still have some work ahead of you. The choice you make after your tooth extraction depends a lot on the teeth around it. You have a few options to choose from, and each has its own set of features and drawbacks.
The Dental Bridge
One less invasive option is the dental bridge. With this solution, one or more teeth is cast in porcelain and then attached to the teeth on either side of the gap. These attachment teeth don’t necessarily need to be natural teeth, but they do have to be strong enough to hold your dental bridge in place. The teeth in the prosthetic bridge will match the size, shape, and color of your current teeth, so your smile will look gorgeous and natural. This solution should work for you especially if you aren’t sure you want to undergo any permanent changes, or if you are missing multiple teeth.
The Dental Implant
The dental implant is a great solution for those looking for a permanent fix. With an implant, a titanium post will be fused into your jaw, keeping it strong and healthy. After that post has fused properly, your dentist will place a specially crafted crown to the post. This implant may prove sturdier over time than the dental bridge because it draws its support from the jaw rather than the neighboring teeth. However, this solution can take longer to implement, depending on how long you take to heal. If you still have questions about what to do now that you have had your tooth extracted, schedule an consultation with your dentist.
