Age, stress and accidents can lead to missing or broken teeth. Normal wear and tear can sometimes lead to a cracked tooth or a dead nerve. Teeth can never be re-grown and live teeth cannot be donated, but there are a number of artificial methods to restore the appearance and functionality of a tooth.
Ways To Replace a Tooth
A tooth that is missing can be replaced in a few ways. One is a bridge, a false tooth held in place with some wires attached to another tooth. If there is a piece of the tooth left, a cap, or "crown," can be put on top of it. If the root is dead or damaged it may need to be drilled out; if there is a tooth, it likely will require a crown. If the tooth is mostly gone or diseased, then the root canal is performed and an implant may replace the tooth.
Tooth Crowns
If there is a good amount of tooth left and if the tooth is healthy, then a crown might be put into place after a tooth is broken or has suffered a bad cavity. The crown might look like a natural tooth, made of porcelain, or it might be metal. Gold crowns were fashionable at one time and still have some purpose, as they are the easiest to mold, according to About Cosmetic Dentistry.
Crowns after Root Canal
During a root canal, the drill goes straight down the tooth and into the root. That leaves the tooth very thin and fragile. Usually after a root canal, the tooth is encircled with a metal band to stabilize it and then a crown is put on top. The crown is matched to the color of the surrounding teeth.
Implants
One way to replace a tooth is to get an implant. In this method, something resembling a screw and usually made of titanium is implanted in the jaw. After the implant has healed, it becomes "integrated" into the jaw. Then a cap, or crown, is placed, sometimes screwed, into position. This is a permanent way to replace one or more teeth. This method is used especially if there is no portion of the tooth remaining for a crown or no teeth nearby on which to anchor a bridge.
Implants with Dentures
If there are no teeth left in the client's mouth, the client may want to use dentures. But with no teeth, sometimes dentures are not solid enough. Under this circumstance it might be useful to have some dental implants on which to anchor the dentures to make the dentures more functional.
Costs
The implant is by far the most expensive procedure, requiring a dental surgeon and several visits. The root canal with the crown is another expensive procedure. If the root is straight and the job is simple, it can be done in a dentist's office, which will save money. Otherwise, the procedure is performed by an oral surgeon. A simple crown over a remaining broken but otherwise healthy tooth is the least expensive option.
