dental implantIf you need a tooth — or several — you’re probably wondering about what’s going to fill in the gap. After all, you probably don’t want to traverse through your life with an empty space that was once occupied by a tooth. Luckily, there are several options that can provide a prosthetic tooth, also known as a pontic, that offer both aesthetic and health benefits. In today’s blog, your Newport Beach, CA, dentist talks about what happens after you have an extraction and the importance of replacing a missing tooth.

Why An Extraction Can Be Important

Despite what you may think, having a tooth removed is not always a consequence of poor oral hygiene. While the two can be connected, this is not always the case, and it is important to not be hard on yourself if you need to undergo an extraction. It is most essential to think about your overall health, and in certain situations, removal can help ensure your physical well-being. For instance, if you have a compromised immune system, an infection in your teeth or gums can spread throughout the rest of your body and harm more than just your mouth. In other cases, external trauma can severely hurt the health of a tooth, which could necessitate extraction as well. Impacted or overcrowded wisdom teeth are other common problems for many individuals and can lead to needing removal. 

The Health Benefits

In addition to providing aesthetic benefits, replacing an extracted tooth has other substantial perks as well. Not many people are aware that the act of chewing and using your teeth, in general, stimulates the jawbone, which helps it maintain a healthy density.  Moreover, this stimulation also releases key nutrients into your bloodstream, helping keep your body well, overall. With this in mind, it is essential not to hesitate in replacing a missing tooth as soon as you can.

Replacement Options

Once you have a tooth extracted, your dentist or dentist will provide you with options for filling the space. One of the most beneficial choices is a dental implant. This consists of a biocompatible titanium post going into your gum line and then fitting it with a prosthetic tooth or using it to support a crown, bridge, or implant-retained denture. Your oral healthcare professional will discuss the best choice for your unique needs, but the benefit of the implant, as noted above, is that it will help ensure your jawbone stays healthy and dense. Otherwise, it can lose mass, resulting in deterioration that can then affect your face.

Schedule An Appointment To Learn More About Extraction

Extractions and subsequent implants are some of the most common oral surgery procedures. We know it might sound daunting, but the health benefits can be immense. To learn more about either procedure, please do not hesitate to reach out.  Schedule an appointment, by calling Balboa Dental Surgery in Newport Beach, CA, today at 949-630-0143.