If you lost a tooth some time ago and use a flipper tooth as a replacement, speak to a dentist about dental implants. Flipper teeth are designed to be temporary replacements for lost teeth, but a number of people use their flippers on a permanent basis. Choosing to wear a flipper tooth on a long-term basis may not be a good idea because it can cause a great deal of problems in your mouth. Here's why you should replace your flipper tooth with a dental implant.

Why Is Your Flipper Tooth Not Good For You?

After you lose a tooth, the bone cells inside the empty tooth socket absorb back into your jawbone. Over time, your jawbone can lose a significant amount of height and thickness, which makes your face appear older than it may actually be. A flipper tooth can't reverse or stop the bone loss in your jawbone because it lacks teeth roots.

Real teeth use their roots to stimulate new bone growth in your jawbones. Flipper teeth generally rely on acrylic bases and wires to keep them fixated inside the mouth. The acrylic and wires may actually harm your mouth if they rub against your gums, tongue or inner cheeks and cause cuts and abrasions. If you don't have the cuts and abrasions treated by a dentist, you can develop a bacterial infection that endangers the health of your gums, heart and other body areas.

You can prevent the issues above with a dental implant.

Why Is a Dental Implant a Better Choice For You?

Dental implants are designed to mimic and function just like real teeth roots. The implants come with metal or acrylic posts that anchor them inside empty tooth sockets. The posts eventually bond with the bone cells in the jawbone, which encourages new bone tissue to develop over time. It can take 5-9 months before a dentist completes your implant treatment. If you already lost bone tissue in your jaws, a dentist may graft bone cells into your jaws to rebuild them.

A dentist will also spend time fabricating a dental crown for your implant. The crown must be strong enough to protect the top of the dental implant from damage and germs, as well as strong enough to bite and chew different foods, such as steak and crunchy vegetables. If you couldn't enjoy a variety of foods because of your flipper tooth, the new crown will allow you to do so now.

For more information about dental implant treatment, contact a dentist, like those at Gordon Dental, today.

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