3 Dental Applications That Help Stop Teeth From Shifting After A Tooth Is Lost

When teeth become misaligned, the process required to straighten the teeth can be lengthy. Dental misalignment is not always due to the genetic placement of teeth. Some dental misalignments take place due to the loss of a tooth. The extra space allows the other teeth to have enough room to migrate from their proper place. Nevertheless, there are dental applications that can help prevent the shifting of teeth that occurs once a tooth is lost. Here are a few of them:

Dental Implants

A dental implant can help prevent the teeth from shifting from their position by filling the gap left by the lost tooth. Once the dental implant is in position, it becomes a placeholder for remaining natural teeth.

Additionally, the implants can prevent shifting that occurs due to loss of bone density. The roots of a tooth are held firmly in place by the jawbone. However, once the jawbone begins to lose mass, the teeth may become loose and can shift about, causing a misalignment.

Dental implants help support jawbone density by providing consistent stimulation that incites the production of more bone cells. Each time you chew, the pressure from the mastication is transferred from the crown to the dental implant and then to the jawbone.

Dental Bridges

Like a dental implant, a dental bridge can also serve as a placeholder for adjacent teeth. The bridge is permanently affixed to teeth that border the space from the missing tooth. Thus, the dental bridge blocks teeth from shifting into the space and out of their proper position.

Since a dental bridge is not removable, it offers continual protection from misalignment.

A Retainer

If you have suffered from crowded teeth and have had braces to correct your condition, you may have had several teeth extracted to make the orthodontic treatment more effective. Once your misalignment is corrected, your dentist is likely to prescribe a retainer to help your teeth maintain their new positioning. Without the retainer, the extra space from the extracted teeth could permit the teeth to become misaligned again.

The dentist is likely to specify the amount of time that the retainer should be worn daily to prevent a misalignment that requires the reapplication of braces.

To learn more dental services that can help you to avoid a dental misalignment after the loss or extraction of a tooth, schedule an appointment with a dentist or orthodontist in your area. He or she can prescribe a suitable course of action based on your specific needs.