Star Style: Make Your Teeth Sparkle

Posted on: 2 October 2017

The length of time necessary for each stage of a dental implant will vary from patient to patient. The tooth that is to be replaced might need to be removed before the actual implant (a metal bolt) can be inserted into your jawbone. You will then generally need to wait for osseointegration to take place, wherein your jawbone will fuse around the implant to secure it into place. Once this has occurred, an abutment can be fitted to the top of the implant before a specially fabricated dental prosthesis is permanently attached, thus completing the dental implant. The end result of a dental implant can be nothing short of remarkable, but there is the matter of being comfortable while you are waiting for that end result. You might want to ask your dentist if temporary fake teeth will be of any benefit in your case.

Reasons for a Temporary Dental Crown

Your dentist might suggest a temporary dental crown if the removal of the tooth that is to be replaced with a dental implant will cause significant issues. This might be an aesthetic issue in the instance that the missing tooth is obvious when you smile. It might also be that other teeth in your mouth have decayed or degraded, so that you will find it difficult to chew food when the tooth has been removed (although you will need to be careful when chewing using the temporary dental crown).

Non-Permanent

If deemed to be helpful, the temporary fake tooth can be applied once the site around the extracted tooth and dental implant (the metal bolt) has healed. A soft dental cement is applied (so that it can easily be dissolved later) and a fake tooth (generally made from a chemical-cure composite) is fitted into place. It's important to remember that this is only a temporary measure and will not be as strong as a natural tooth, nor will it be as strong as the dental implant once the permanent fake tooth has been fitted.

Caring for the Temporary Fake Tooth

You will need to take care with this temporary dental crown. Some types of sticky foods (namely toffee and other types of confectionary) can dislodge it. When eating crunchy or chewy foods, you will need to learn to get into the habit of not using the fake tooth when chewing. It can be prudent to in fact chew using the other side of your mouth if possible. You will also need to be careful when flossing. If the upwards motion of the floss is too strong, the fake tooth could become loose or even be dislodged.

So if your dentist suggests a temporary fake tooth while you're undergoing the various stages of work required for a dental implant, it's important that you take proper caution to keep it in place.