As a dentist in Putnam, we do everything we can to ensure your teeth and gums stay as healthy as possible. When damage occurs, we take every possible measure to repair the damage to restore a tooth’s function and appearance. However, there are times when teeth can’t be saved. This is known as terminal dentition. When teeth can no longer be restored, your Putnam dentist will recommend your teeth are extracted and dental prosthetics are used to restore your oral function.
What is Terminal Dentition?
Terminal dentition most often occurs when teeth have become too severely damaged from tooth decay or periodontal disease. There are many signs that this may be occurring, such as if the gums have begun to recede severely, bleed, or suffer from extreme inflammation or infection. Often, the teeth may have begun to shift out of place, becoming loose and even falling out.
However, the condition can occur for other reasons as well, such as cracked teeth. When this occurs, you’re likely to experience pain when biting or chewing. In some cases, you may have constant bad breath, which is often due to an infection or decay. No matter the cause, it’s important to your oral health and function to have severely damaged teeth removed when they can no longer be repaired.
If you have severely damaged teeth that can’t be restored, your oral and overall health will be impacted. Unhealthy teeth not only cause discomfort, but can lead to infections, dental decay, and advanced gum disease.
Treating Terminal Dentition
In order to treat terminal dentition, your Putman dentist will conduct a thorough evaluation to determine a treatment plan. Using digital x-rays and other imaging tools, your mouth will be scanned to analyze the scope of damage and the health of your jaw bone. Using oral impressions, your dentist is able to create a treatment plan using prosthetic teeth, such as dentures or dental implants.
Before you can receive prosthetic teeth to restore oral health and function, your teeth will first need to be extracted. After your teeth have been extracted and you’ve fully healed, the restoration process will begin. Depending on the tooth replacement option you’ve chosen, your restoration process will differ.
For those who choose dentures, you’ll have impressions and images taken of your mouth. These are then sent to a lab to create a custom set of dentures. For those who have healthy gums and adequate bone density, you may be a candidate for dental implants. Dental implants will require surgery to implant titanium posts, which will support the prosthetic teeth.
Your Dentist in Putnam
If you’ve been told you have terminal dentition, we understand it may be a bit scary. We are here to make the process easier and more comfortable by providing you with the treatment options you need to restore your oral health. We will provide you with the tooth replacement options you need to improve your oral health and function, while giving you a new beautiful smile. Don’t suffer from failing teeth any longer. Let your dentist in Putnam restore your mouth.