Crown installation other implantat. 3D illustration
What happens when you lose a tooth? What if you have lost more than one, or possibly all of them? In these cases, you need a dental prosthetic to replace the tooth and protect your smile from major oral health complications! In today’s blog, your Grand Prairie, TX, dentist talks about our approach to prosthetic dentistry.
Why do we lose our teeth in the first place? Tooth loss could happen for a number of different reasons. For some, an injury to the face or jaw could be responsible. For others, advanced tooth decay or infection could lead to missing teeth. The most common cause is actually gum disease. Without treatment to manage it, the disease could reach a stage known as periodontitis, which can lead to adult tooth loss. When you lose teeth, or even just a single one, we hope you will see us right away for prosthetic dentistry, so we can fill the gap in your smile and offer lifelike results!
Prosthetic dentistry is crucial for avoiding the major long-term complications of tooth loss. When you lose teeth, this gap could limit your meal options and deprive you of essential nutrients as you are forced to rely more on soft foods. In addition, this could alter your speech and may even be a source of embarrassment, leaving negative impacts on your overall quality of life.
The gap in your smile could allow nearby teeth to shift, leading to misalignment. Not only does this alter your smile’s appearance, but this could make thorough brushing and flossing more difficult, increasing the risk of tooth decay and gum disease. Missing teeth also means a weaker jaw. The body will stop sending doses of calcium and phosphorus to the jaw around the missing root. Denied these nutrients, the jaw weakens and erodes, which means further tooth loss and eventually, a greater risk of an older appearance. But we can help with prosthetic dentistry!
If you have a more minor case of tooth loss, we could offer help with a dental bridge. The prosthetic can address between one and three missing teeth in a row. The prosthetic contains new teeth, referred to as pontics, with corns connected to each end. We craft them from ceramic so they can be shaded to blend with your smile and also absorb daily bite forces with ease. Once the crown portions are connected to the abutment teeth, the ones on each side of the gap, your new teeth can stay in place for 10 to 15 years on average.
If you have multiple gaps across your smile, then a bridge may not be enough, but a full denture isn’t necessary either. For these complicated cases, we can offer a partial denture. The denture contains new ceramic teeth set in an acrylic base that mimics the appearance of gum tissue. There are metal clasps that attach to natural teeth and secure the denture in place. The new teeth fit in the gaps, so you have a full smile again. Dentures tend to last about 5 to 10 years on average.
If you are missing most (or all) of your teeth, then you need a complete set of dentures. This will contain a complete row of lifelike teeth, and is held in place with suction or the assistance of a special adhesive. These are removable and can last for about 5 to 10 years before replacement is ended, and we can explain how to soak and clean them to ensure they last and provide quality tooth replacement.
With dental implants, we insert what are essentially new roots into the jaw, which prevents the breakdown linked to further tooth loss and an aged appearance. We can use them to remove a single tooth, or to support new teeth like bridges and dentures that can last decades instead of just a few years. These look and function like natural teeth!
If you have any questions about prosthetic dentistry, or if you would like to finally address the gap in your smile, then contact our team today to learn more. You deserve a full smile, and we are ready to make it happen for you!
With prosthetic dentistry, we are ready to address your tooth loss so you can enjoy a full smile once again. When you are ready to schedule your next appointment with our office, contact Pecan Tree Dental in Grand Prairie, TX at 972-262-5111 today.
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