When you end up with a missing tooth, or if you have lost a few in a row, then you may benefit from a dental bridge. Our team can employ one to address between one and three lost teeth in a row. In today’s blog, your Grand Prairie, TX, dentist talks about how we replace missing teeth with a custom and lifelike dental bridge.
The Causes and Risks of Tooth Loss
Losing even a single tooth could mean serious trouble for your oral health. A tooth could be lost to injury, untreated cavities or infections, or in most cases, the periodontitis stage of gum disease. When the tooth is missing, nearby teeth could drift from position to create misalignment, which further harms your oral health and makes negative changes to your smile’s appearance. Missing teeth could complicate how we eat and speak, and could be a source of embarrassment for someone. But we can fill the gap in your smile with a lifelike and durable dental bridge!
Starting Your Bridge Creation
The dental bridge is a prosthetic that fills the gap caused by tooth loss, replacing between one and up to three lost teeth in a row. If you need one, we will begin the process by numbing the abutment teeth, the ones on each side of the gap in your smile. Once we do, we will remove structure from them and take detailed digital images and measurements of the gap and these prepared teeth. In a dental lab, we will use the information to design and craft your prosthetic. The prosthetic will contain new teeth with crowns on one or both sides. We craft this from ceramic, which can absorb daily bite forces and also be shaded to blend with the smile.
Securing Your New Prosthetic
When we have completed your new dental bridge, you will return to the office so that we can check the fit and if necessary, make final adjustments before placement. We then attach the crown portions to the abutment teeth, securing them with a powerful bonding agent. This sets your new teeth firmly in place. With proper care and attention, one can last as long as 10 to 15 years. You need to brush and floss them as you would natural teeth, and also clean the spaces between the tip of the gums and the bottom of the prosthetic, where food and drink particles could become trapped. Be sure you see our team for a checkup and cleaning every six months too!
If you have any questions about how we replace missing teeth with a custom and natural-looking prosthetic, or if you have a gap in your smile, then contact our team today.
Schedule a Visit to Replace a Missing Tooth
Our team is eager to help you obtain a complete smile again with a dental prosthetic. For more information on how we replace missing teeth, then schedule an appointment with Dr. Smith and our team by calling Pecan Tree Dental in Grand Prairie, TX, today at (972) 262-5111.
