Dental Replacement Options For A Cuspid Tooth Facing Extraction
Posted on: 10 February 2016
The cuspids, also known as the canine teeth, are located at the front of your mouth on either side of what are commonly called the two front teeth. Cuspids are important in the grabbing portion of chewing and the loss of a cuspid to extraction can cause chewing problems and impact your self-esteem. Choosing a dental replacement option ahead of the extraction can give you peace of mind and get a new tooth in the spot as soon as possible.
Here are a few of the dental replacement options you can discuss with your cosmetic dentist.
Dental Implant
Cuspid teeth take on quite a lot of bite force when grabbing onto your food, so you will want to go with a dental replacement option that is sturdy. Dental implants are one of the most sturdy replacements because the dentist will drill a hole into your jawbone and insert the implant's metal root, which will then be held into place by the healing bone. An artificial tooth crown is later snapped onto that root for a firm fit.
Your dentist will likely recommend metal-backed porcelain crowns for your implants. The combination of materials provides the added strength of metal and the natural tooth coloration of porcelain, which is important for a tooth in the front of your mouth.
You will still want to avoid biting into hard foods like apples as much as possible. Try to use your natural remaining cuspid to avoid putting undue stress on the artificial tooth. Or simply eat softer versions of your favorite foods, such as substituting applesauce or cooked apples for raw apples.
Fixed Bridge
Traditional dental implants aren't always the best choice if you have other missing teeth in the area. An alternative is a fixed bridge or fixed partial denture, which still use an implant root as the stable base.
Instead of a single crown fitting onto the implant, the dentist will craft a bridge or partial denture plate and install that on the root. Bridges features dental caps on each end that attach to the natural teeth on each side and a false central tooth that snaps onto the root.
A partial denture plate looks similar to a traditional full denture plate, except there are holes cut out to accommodate the natural teeth that exist between the missing teeth. A non-implant supported partial hooks around natural teeth on each end for support. But a fixed partial denture has the dental implant roots to hold it much more firmly in place, which is important when replacing a cuspid tooth. Contact a dental professional, such as one from TLC Dental Center, for more information about your options.
Share