Your smile is the first thing people will notice about you, and a first impression will have profound effects on your interactions. Few things can hurt a first impression like a smile marred by tooth decay, or tooth loss. The extent to which people have always been self-conscious about tooth loss might be best demonstrated by the fact that more than a thousand years ago the Mayan culture implanted pieces of shell into the jaw in the place of missing teeth. If people were willing to go to such lengths that long ago, it is no wonder that tooth implants are extremely common and popular today.
Fortunately for us, technology has progressed since the Mayan days and now lifelike dental prosthetics can be attached by titanium screws into the jawbone, resulting in the appearance of a tooth so life-like that only your dentist will know the difference. Dr. Nguyen in Menlo Park is on the cutting edge of tooth implant technology and regularly counsels her patients about the benefits of a tooth implant versus dentures or a traditional bridge. A tooth implant may not be appropriate for everyone, but Dr. Nguyen’s patients in Menlo Park know that they are receiving all the information they need to ensure that they are getting the best treatment for their conditions.
Tooth loss happens for a number of reasons. Tooth decay caused by plaque and gingivitis is still the most common cause of tooth loss, despite advances that have been made in combating tooth decay through fluoride toothpaste and dental cleanings. However, accidents can happen to anyone and a tooth lost to trauma caused by an accident, be it car or sport related, will often be healthy tooth in a young person. In these cases a tooth implant may be even more desirable as the patient would otherwise have to live with severely damaged or missing teeth for a much longer time.
Younger patients are often better candidates for tooth implants because they frequently have more and healthier bone to attach the tooth implant into, however good dental hygiene is also an important factor that does not necessarily take into account the age of a patient.
In Menlo Park, Dr. Nguyen specializes in one visit tooth implants, this technique greatly reduces the healing time necessary after a tooth implant and can save patients a great deal of time. Her advanced tooth implant techniques and unparalleled commitment to improving patient care by seeing only one patient at a time sets Dr. Nguyen apart from her Menlo Park dental colleagues.
If you have recently lost a tooth, or have a damaged tooth that you believe may need to be removed, you should schedule an appointment at Dental Excellence in Menlo Park so that Dr. Nguyen can explore your options with you. It may be the case that a tooth implant is exactly what you need to save your smile.
