Even minor tooth loss, such as a single missing tooth, could lead to trouble for you in your daily life, and with your overall oral health. But we can help! For minor tooth loss, placing a bridge could fill the gap and ensure lifelike results. In today’s blog, your Prairie Village, KS, dentist talks about how we keep smiles whole with a dental bridge.
Don’t Ignore That Missing Tooth!
When you lose a tooth, or as many as three in a row, then you could benefit from the placement of a dental bridge. Otherwise, you could develop some serious complications. For example, the gap in your smile could allow nearby teeth to drift, creating misalignment that changes the appearance of your smile and increases the risk of cavities and gum disease. Missing teeth could mean the onset of jaw joint strain, which is linked to painful disorders like TMD and bruxism (teeth grinding). You could be limited in your meal options too and even feel embarrassed in social situations.
But! The most insidious complication is the loss of mass and density in your jaw. The body will stop sending doses of calcium and phosphorus to the jaw around the lost tooth. Which means it weakens and erodes, causing further tooth loss. But we can help protect your smile with a dental prosthetic, such as a bridge.
Creating Your Custom Dental Bridge
To begin, we will numb the teeth on each side of your gap, known as the abutment teeth. We gently remove structure from them, and then take detailed digital images and measurements of the teeth and the gap, which we use in a lab setting to design and craft your custom prosthetic. The prosthetic will be made from ceramic, a strong material that can handle daily bite forces and be shaded to blend with your smile. The finished product contains your new tooth or teeth, with crowns on each end. Now is the time for replacement!
Crown vs. Implant-Secured
For a traditional dental bridge, our team will connect the crown portions to the abutment teeth. This prosthetic can last for 10 to 15 years on average. With a dental implant option, we don’t remove structure from abutment teeth. Instead, we insert one to two dental implants into the ja and attach the crowns to them. This not only means a longer-lasting prosthetic, but this can prevent the loss of mass and density in your jaw, keeping your smile intact.
Learn More About the Tooth Replacement Process
Dr. Browne and his team in Prairie Village, KS, want to make sure you can feel confident when you smile and enjoy your favorite foods. When you have one or missing teeth, then reach out to our team today by calling 913-901-8585.
