If you are interested in dental implants, it’s a good idea to discuss it carefully with our Idaho Falls dentist first. If you are in good general health this treatment may be an option for you. In fact, your health is more of a factor than your age. You may be medically evaluated by a physician before any implant surgery is scheduled. Chronic illnesses, such as diabetes or leukemia, may interfere with healing after surgery. Patients with these issues may not be good candidates for implants. Using tobacco can also slow healing.
If you’re missing one or more teeth, you may notice a difference in chewing and speaking. Bridges being the 2nd choice can help restore your smile. A bridge replaces missing teeth with artificial teeth and literally “bridges” the gap where one or more teeth used to be. Bridges can be made from porcelain and are attached to surrounding teeth for support. Unlike a removable bridge, which you can take out and clean, a fixed bridge can only be removed by a dentist.
An implant bridge attaches artificial teeth directly to the jaw or under the gum tissue. Depending on which type of bridge Dr. Machen recommends, its success depends on the foundation. So it’s very important to keep your remaining teeth healthy and strong.