Tooth decay is a progressive dental problem that may lead to periodontal disease and tooth loss. However, many people are unable to detect tooth decay because of poor dental care and missed dental appointments. If the tooth decay has gotten severe, your dentist may recommend a number of treatment methods including filling and implantation. How do you know which one is the best choice?
When are Dental Implants Used?
Dental implants are modern solutions for restoring missing teeth, which means that they can only be used once a tooth has fallen out or has been extracted. The procedure involves a titanium screw-like device that will be buried deep into the gums. This will serve as the artificial tooth root that will hold the false tooth or crown.
Implantation has certain limitations, especially with regards to the periodontal health of the patient. If the patient has gum disease or poor gum structure deemed unfit for holding an implant, the procedure will not be pursued. Implants do not solve tooth decay or eliminate infection. Rather, they are simply cosmetic solutions to replace teeth that have been lost and an alternative to dentures.
When are Dental Fillings Used?
Dental fillings are also considered restorations, but they are quite different from implants. While implants require tooth removal, fillings are used to save teeth and prevent any need for extraction. When a dentist cleans out your tooth and removes all of the decayed parts, your tooth will be left exposed and unevenly shaped, especially if your decay has reached different parts and angles of the tooth. Dental filling is used to replace the removed tooth mass and restore the original structure of the tooth. Sometimes, filling is enough to restore the tooth, but other times, you may need to get a crown to complete the tooth structure.
Most dentists will go for salvaging the tooth instead of extracting it, and saving a tooth requires filling it after removing the decay. However, not everyone is qualified to get fillings. Some cases of decay are too severe to be resolved by simple drilling and excavation. If the infection has reached the roots and gums, extraction may be the best solution.
Implants or Fillings? How to Decide
You should get fillings if:rnYour decay is shallow.rnLittle drilling and excavation is needed to remove the infected areas.rnThe external tooth mass is intact.rnYou don’t want to get your tooth extracted.rnYour dentist says the decay can be removed completely without extracting the tooth.rnThe infection has been completely removed and filling the tooth will not result in internal decay.
You should get dental implants if:rnThe decay is too big and deep to be excavated.rnThe decay has spread to other teeth or to the gums.rnThe decay needs to be disinfected deep in the tooth root and gums.rnThe tooth can no longer be restored even after removal of decay.rnThe decay recurred after getting a filling.rnThe tooth needs to be extracted.
Final Thoughts
Deciding between dental implants and fillings is something that needs professional intervention. Talk to your dentist to understand how these two restorations work and which one fits your case better.
Dental implants and fillings at Kenosha are best options when you only have minimal decay and the tooth can still be salvaged. However, if the decay has reached the tooth root and has a risk of spreading to the gums and other teeth, extraction may be needed. In such case, you will have to restore the extracted tooth with a dental implant. Your dentist may recommend other options such as crowns and veneers depending on your actual dental condition.