A dental bridge is a great way to take on more minor cases of tooth loss, including one lost tooth or as many as two to three in a row. Our team can support them with crowns, or even advanced dental implants! In today’s blog, Dr. Robert M. Browne talks about how we address missing teeth with dental bridges.
The Causes of Tooth Loss
Why do we end up with a missing tooth (or teeth)? You could lose a tooth when an injury happens, such as an accident on the court. You could also end up with missing teeth as a result of a severe cavity or an infection. The most common factor behind tooth loss is periodontitis, the advanced stage of gum disease. If you have lost a tooth, or as many as three in a row, we could offer a dental bridge to fill the gap and protect your smile from complications, such as misalignment or even issues with meals or speech.
Creating a Dental Bridge
How do we create a dental bridge? To begin, our team will numb the teeth on each side of the open gap in your smile. Once we do, we will gently remove structure from them to accommodate the crown portions of your prosthetic. Our team will take images of the prepped teeth and the gap with digital intraoral cameras, using the images to create a detailed 3D impression. With this impression, we can design and craft your new prosthetic with precision and accuracy. The prosthetic will contain one to three new teeth all connected to each other, with crowns on each end, all made from durable and lifelike ceramic. The finished product will be shaded to blend with your smile!
Support with Crowns and Implants
With a traditional one, we will attach the crowns to the prepped teeth on each side of the gap. But we could also support them with dental implants, which involves inserting one to two dental implants into the jaw, which act like new roots and keep the jawbone intact, allowing your new prosthetic to stay in place longer and preventing further tooth loss. We then attach the crown portions of the new prosthetic to these posts.
If you have any questions about how we plan and treat tooth loss with digital technology and dental bridges, then reach out to our team today to learn more and start your journey to a full and beautiful smile!
Enjoy Custom Prosthetic Care from Dr. Browne, DDS.
Our team is ready to treat tooth loss with a natural-looking and long-lasting dental prosthetic! To find out more about addressing missing teeth, or to schedule an appointment, please call Dr. Robert M. Browne, D.D.S. in Prairie Village, KS at (913) 901-8585.
