If your teeth have been injured while playing sports, dentures are your first option in replacing them. Whenever possible we try to save natural teeth by using modern dental procedures and restorative dentistry. Saving a natural tooth is always better than having it fall out or needing to pull it out. The challenge is that it is not always possible to save a tooth. Sometimes it is so significantly injured that replacing it is the best option.
When this is the case, we offer several cosmetic dentistry solutions for permanently replacing teeth. This can include creating a dental bridge where a crown is placed on the two teeth surrounding the missing one in order to hold a new tooth in place. If that is not a preferable option, we also offer dental implants and in this procedure a new tooth and root system is created.
Even if a patient elects to have a bridge or implant, dentures will likely be needed while the procedure is being completed. Permanently replacing a tooth is not an instantaneous process. It takes time to prepare the gums and teeth and to have a new tooth created in a dental lab. These types of procedures can take anywhere from a few weeks to several months, depending on which direction you go. During that time, you can either walk around toothless or wear an immediate denture so that your smile can still look amazing. This is especially important for people that have lost one of their front teeth since no one wants to walk around with a silly smile.
When giving patients an immediate denture we try to make the tooth match the surrounding ones as closely as possible but since it is a temporary solution, it may not look perfect. It is typically worn like a retainer would be and held in place by a wire. This is an easy way to get an immediate tooth, and most people appreciate having the ability to look normal while in the transition.
Some people actually prefer dentures to a replacement option like a dental bridge or dental implant. This is because wearing dentures is non-invasive. For people that are uncomfortable with the idea of having oral surgery or any major dental work, dentures provide an option that can look amazing while being completely non-invasive. If you come in for an immediate denture and decide that you want to keep them, we can have a permanent set created in the lab.
Modern dentistry has come a long way, and dentures look more natural than ever because they can be created in the lab using an impression of your teeth. Our technicians can make sure that every aspect of it looks and feels great. This is important because you need to be able to bite down comfortably and without discomfort, which is only possible when the new tooth or teeth are created in the perfect size and shape. If you are an athlete that has damaged their teeth, speak with us about dentures to determine whether or not it is the best solution for you.
