While tooth extractions are sometimes necessary, having a tooth removed often has a negative effect on your smile, and a visibly missing tooth can affect your self-confidence. There are a few cosmetic dentistry options available for replacing a missing tooth, like dental implants and bridges, but orthodontists can sometimes help make a missing tooth less noticeable as well. If you're not yet ready for a cosmetic replacement for your tooth, it may be a good idea to look into getting braces.

Sometimes one medical professional can create extra work for another medical professional. If you have a medical condition that has caused your doctor to prescribe you thiazide diuretics, you might not think that your dentist will have to counteract the effects of this medication. But how can these types of medication impact your dental health? Retention of Water Thiazide diuretics are frequently prescribed for patients with hypertension (high blood pressure). This type of medication works by obstructing the sodium-chloride symporter in your body (which is a type of membrane protein that distributes key molecules throughout your body).

A dental implant is a metal device that is inserted into the bone of the jaw to replace the roots of a lost tooth. The device, which resembles a small rod, integrates with the jawbone over time through a process called osseointegration.  During osseointegration, which begins immediately after the placement of the implant and is completed over the course of several months, the bone cells grow around the inserted implant, eliminating the space between the device and the jawbone.