If you have lost a tooth, then we could help. With a dental bridge, we have a lifelike and effective way to address a single missing tooth. In today’s blog, your Prairie Village, KS, dentist talks about replacing a lost tooth with one of our natural-looking dental bridges.
The Impact of a Single Lost Tooth
Losing even one tooth could mean serious trouble for your smile. We may lose said tooth due to injury or accident, or even as a result or an untreated cavity or infection. The most likely cause is usually periodontitis, the advanced stage of gum disease. When this tooth is missing, the gap could cause teeth on each side to drift, which creates misalignment that further harms your overall oral health and appearance. The stress on your bite could lead to issues like TMJ disorder and bruxism (teeth grinding). You could also feel embarrassed about your appearance! But we can help with a custom and lifelike dental bridge.
Creating a Custom Dental Bridge
The dental prosthetic will fill the space in your smile and stay in place for years to come. To begin, we need to numb the teeth on each side of the gap, which are referred to as abutment teeth. We then take structure from them to make room for the crown portion of your new prosthetic. Our team will take detailed digital images and impressions of the area, and use these to design and craft your new prosthetic.
The prosthetic will contain new teeth, known as pontics, with crowns attached to each end. The entire thing will be made from ceramic, a strong material that can handle daily bite forces with ease and is shaded to blend with the rest of your smile seamlessly.
Securing Your New Tooth
When your dental prosthetic is ready, we will attach the crown portions to your abutment teeth, which secures your new ones directly in place, so you have a full and balanced bite again, one that is healthy and looks great as well. With proper care and attention, such as daily brushing and flossing and a visit for a checkup and cleaning every six months, you can protect your natural teeth and ensure your new teeth stay in place for years to come.
If you have any questions about how we tackle tooth loss with a dental bridge, or about our approach to other issues with lifelike and durable restorative dental solutions, such as fillings and crowns, then contact our team today to learn more.
Call Dr. Robert Browne, D.D.S. for Restorative Dentistry
Our team wants to help replace your missing tooth with a bridge that is durable and lifelike! To find out more about replacing a missing tooth, or to schedule an appointment, please call Dr. Robert M. Browne, D.D.S. in Prairie Village, KS at (913) 901-8585.
