When you have lost a tooth, or have three to four missing in a row, then you may need a dental bridge. The prosthetic is custom-made and helps replace your missing teeth. In today’s blog, your Irving, TX, dentist looks at the dangers for missing teeth, and how dental bridges can help you enjoy a full smile again.
The Causes and Impacts of Missing Teeth
How do we lose our natural teeth? This could occur due to untreated cavities, which lead to infection and require the tooth to be removed before infection can spread. Teeth could also be lost as a result of an injury. But the most common factor is periodontitis, the late stage of gum disease which leads to missing teeth. When you lose teeth, this upsets bite balance to make complications like TMJ disorder and bruxism (teeth grinding) more likely. In addition, you could see misalignment occur as the teeth shift due to the gaps in the smile. Finally, the body could suspend or divert the flow of calcium and phosphates to the areas of the jaw around the lost roots, a complication linked to further tooth loss and an aged appearance. You could also have trouble eating your favorite foods or even smiling with confidence!
Designing a New Prosthetic
To address minor tooth loss and prevent these complications, our team could design and craft a new dental bridge. The prosthetic will contain new teeth with a crown on one or both ends. To create one, we will numb the teeth on each side of the gap and then remove structure from them. We take detailed images, which we use to create an impression. In a dental lab setting, the impression will help our team design and craft the finished product. Made from ceramic, the dental bridge will be able to handle daily bite forces and be shaded to offer a lifelike appearance.
Placement
The crown portion will be attached to the abutment teeth, the ones we removed structure from, securing your new prosthetic in place for 10 to 15 years on average. But we could also insert one or two dental implants and attach the bridge to these, protecting tooth structure and offering an option that can last for decades, as it prevents the loss of mass and density in the jaw. If you have lost teeth, don’t let your oral health and quality of life suffer. Instead, contact our team to talk about replacing your missing teeth with a lifelike and durable dental bridge.
Talk To Your Irving, TX Dentist About Dental Prosthetics
Our team is ready to help you enjoy a full smile. To find out we treat missing teeth with a custom prosthetic, then please reach out to Defining Smiles in Irving, TX today at 972-717-0860.
