Some people believe that, since baby teeth fall out anyway, it’s not overly important to prevent decay until your child’s permanent teeth come in. However, loss of baby teeth can result in problems when the permanent teeth arrive. For this reason, dentists recommend keeping your child’s gums and baby teeth clean and healthy in order to prevent decay.

Long-Term Effects of Early Childhood Cavities

Decay in your child’s baby teeth, also known as deciduous teeth, can create long-term problems, including problems with the permanent teeth that can require expensive orthodontic treatment. If baby teeth suffer from serious decay, they might eventually need to be removed. If the baby teeth are removed, this can lead to problems with the alignment of the permanent teeth when they come in. If your child’s baby teeth remain healthy and intact, the permanent teeth are less likely to come in crooked or misaligned. [pullquote]Loss of baby teeth can result in problems when the permanent teeth arrive.[/pullquote]

Numerous cavities during childhood can also lead to dental anxiety. If your child has to have cavities filled or teeth extracted, he might begin to associate the family dentist with discomfort and stress. However, if your child only goes to the dentist for regular cleanings, fluoride treatments, and other issues such as having sealants placed, he will be much more willing to go to the dentist because former trips have been a pleasant experience.

Establishing Good Dental Hygiene Habits

Keeping your child’s teeth clean and healthy will also help establish good dental hygiene habits for your child. These habits will serve your child well as he grows older. If you help keep your child’s teeth clean when he is very young, he will become used to the routine of brushing and flossing and it will be easier to get him accustomed to keeping his own teeth clean as he gets old enough to do so.

If you’re not sure how to teach your child to brush and floss or perform other oral hygiene routines, ask your family dentist at the doctor Family Dentistry to provide recommendations. Your dentist can also help demonstrate proper technique and supply child-friendly toothbrushes and floss holders well-suited to your child’s smaller hands.

Dental implants provide long-lasting, permanent replacements for missing teeth. When you only need to replace one or two teeth, they also give you the advantage of not having to restructure adjacent teeth as is necessary with bridges and some other types of partial dentures. A consultation with an implant dentist will help you determine how implants can help you regain your perfect smile.

Implants vs. Bridges

When only a few teeth are being replaced, one frequently used option for replacement is a bridge. Bridges are partial, permanent dentures, and can be anchored with wires or by attaching the prosthetic teeth to adjacent teeth. In both approaches, the adjacent teeth must have material removed to make room for the wires or crowns that hold the bridge in place.

A crown and bridge replacement usually involves a denture with one or two teeth, anchored by crowns on either side of the prosthetic teeth. So, two teeth must be restructured to make room for the crowns. Bridges anchored with wires require less restructuring, but still involve modifying the adjacent teeth.

How Implants Work

Dental implants do not require adjacent teeth to be modified in anyway. Instead, an artificial root made of titanium is placed directly in the jawbone. If only one tooth is missing, one root is placed and a single prosthetic tooth is attached to it. Because the implant is anchored in the jawbone, adjacent teeth can be left unmodified.

If two or more teeth are missing, a similar process allows you to have each tooth replaced individually, with each new tooth anchored by its own implant, or two or more teeth supported by one or two implants. Your implant dentist will evaluate your bone mass as well as the condition of your gums and other factors to determine how many implants will give you the best support for your new, replacement teeth.

If you are missing one or more teeth, please contact our caring dental team to schedule a consultation to find out how dental implants can give you back a fully intact, natural looking smile. Call our office today.