Healthy strong smiles
I really try to save teeth if I can. You know, we have great options for replacing, from implants to partials, that come in and out, to bridges. But if we can save a tooth, that’s what I always prefer to do for a patient. I’ll talk with them about the options, so we can do this, we can do that. And we work at it together. And each person has a different budget. And, you know, so we try to review that. But I want people to know everything so we can make a good, informed decision for them. With missing teeth, people don’t realize that the bone resorbs around that area. Teeth will collapse into that area, changes a person’s bite. All of a sudden they’re hitting on other teeth. It causes those to loosen up. Many times we see people that have missing teeth in the back. And as long as they have their front teeth, they’re fine. But we have a saying in dentistry that when the back teeth are gone, the front teeth follow. They’re not made to support those. So when certain teeth are missing, it is important to look at, you know, how we can replace that best for them so we can keep the functioning of the smile and of the oral cavity in good shape.