By Patrick Boswell

While losing a tooth is a rite-of-passage for many kids, complete with an under-the-pillow monetary gift from the all-important tooth fairy, losing a tooth for an adult can be a stressful and upsetting situation. There are many, many reasons for losing a tooth ranging from an accident to poor tooth help.

Regardless of the how or why, a missing tooth can be a bother for you. Maybe you can’t chew properly or speak properly because of the missing tooth. Perhaps you are concerned with how you look because of missing teeth and you find you don’t smile as often as you’d like. You avoid having your picture taken and talking to someone else can be an uncomfortable situation.

Fortunately, if you are missing teeth it is not an impossible situation and your smile can be saved! You can have the missing tooth or teeth replaced with a variety of solutions, depending on your situation and your dentist’s recommendations.

If you are missing any teeth at all, you will first need to schedule a visit to your dentist. He or she can examine the rest of your mouth – teeth and gums – and let you know if any of your other teeth are unhealthy. The sooner you can visit your dentist the better in case you have any other teeth that may be unhealthy and at risk for breaking.

If you are nervous about seeing your dentist, be sure to let them know when you are making your visit. Your first initial consultation and visit may just be to examine your teeth and gums to determine what treatment plan your dentist will suggest. You may not have any cosmetic work done on this visit. You can ask your dentist to explain what he or she is doing every step of the way if you are feeling anxious. They will let you know that they are just taking an x-ray picture, or if they are just cleaning buildup off of your tooth.

Your dentist will examine the area of the missing tooth. They will probably take a look at the condition of the teeth on either side of the space where your tooth used to be. It will be important that these teeth are healthy as well. Your dentist may decide to care for your natural teeth before replacing a missing tooth. If your doctor recommends a bridge – a tooth fixture which is held in place by surrounding teeth – then your dentist will want to make sure these teeth are strong enough to hold the bridge in place.

As with any procedure, you can talk to your dentist about any questions you may have. Discuss all of your options including insurance coverage, cost and length or frequency of visits. Some procedures may require only one visit while others may require more. If you have anxiety about any dental procedure, ask your dentist what options are available for your comfort.

Tooth loss can be prevented with healthy habits of brushing and flossing as well as regular check-ups and visits to your dentist. It’s never to late to have a healthy and beautiful smile and your dentist can help you get one! The next time someone gets out their camera, you can smile big for the picture.

About the Author: A leading dental practice in North Carolina practicing Sedation Dentistry Raleigh that is committed to offering high quality dental services and exceptional patient care. This practice provides Sedation Dentistry in NC that offers patients a wide variety of dental treatments in one visit.

Source: isnare.com

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