As you age, you may find yourself in a situation where you no longer wish to share your smile with others because of damaged, missing, or broken teeth, deep staining, or neglect. Don’t despair. There are many options available to you, so you no longer have to live with a smile that you don’t feel confident in.

There are three primary options when it comes to dealing with this issue. Your dentist can discuss these in depth with you, but we will briefly highlight each of them. These are dental implants, dentures, and crowns.

Each of these has positives and negatives, so depending on your circumstances, you can decide with your dentist which option will work best for you. When you know more about their differences, you can better make the best decision for your needs.

Read on as we discuss the top three most common procedures that dentists perform on their patients to improve the overall aesthetic of their mouths.

What Are Dental Implants?

Dental implants have quickly become popular because they provide a very natural look and feel. If you choose to go this route, you will undergo asurgical procedure that involves drilling a hole in the space where you have a missing tooth.

The structural integrity of your jaw will determinehow successful this procedure will be. It is critical that your jawbone is strong enough to withstand drilling and the implantation of a titanium post.

With dental implants, it is not necessary to reshape your teeth if they are already healthy. The success rate is high for this popular procedure.

What Are Dentures?

Another option to replace missing teeth is to have dentures made. In fact, dentures have been the gold standard to replace missing or broken teeth for many years.

When it comes to the type of dentures you wear, you can choose from full or partial sets, depending on your specific needs. Full dentures are the common choice when all or most of the teeth need to be replaced. Partial dentures are usually chosen when some of the teeth are missing, but not all.

Partial dentures are sometimes referred to as bridges. Bridges are held in place by attaching them to your existing teeth.

Because dentures fit into your gum line, there is no need to reshape your existing teeth. Even so, there could be a period of discomfort when you first get dentures when your mouth is adjusting to the new teeth. This should only last briefly and should be perfectly manageable with OTC pain medications like Tylenol or Aleve.

What Are Crowns?

A crown is exactly what it sounds like. A cap on an existing tooth. But crowns serve a very important purpose.

When a tooth becomes infected or starts to rot, thedecay can spread so much that it makes up most of the tooth. When this happens, your dentist will clean out the decay and then place a cap on the top of your tooth to seal it and protect it from further damage.

A crown is also sometimes used when a tooth requires a root canal. In addition, a dentist may use a crown to protect a tooth that is cracked or chipped. No matter the reason, the crown must have something to adhere to, so your tooth must be large enough and strong enough to support the crown once it is fixed to your tooth.

Final Words

There is no question that your dentist was right all these years. We cannot overstate the importance of twice daily brushing, flossing, rinsing, and regular professional dental cleanings every six months. Your oral health is critical to your overall well-being.

By maintaining excellent dental health, you may be able to avoid the need for oral surgery, implants, or emergency care, although sometimes things happen, and they cannot be avoided.

No matter how you have cared for your oral health up until this point, it is never too late to adopt practices that will keep your mouth healthy, clean, and looking its best.

Should you require additional help, you should always consult your dentist when deciding if dental implants, dentures, or a crown is the right choice for you.

Browse the LIVFRESH Line to Find the Perfect Oral Health Products for You

LIVFRESH is a small company with a huge goal. We want to stop gum disease and prevent periodontitis and gingivitis. Our clients know about the importance of good oral health and love that our products are natural, safe, and effective. They also contain no antimicrobials, parabens, gluten, sugar, triclosan, or sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS).

You can check out our selection of all natural LIVFRESH products by clicking here.