Dental Bridges Provide A Full Smile
When you suffer from tooth loss, you may feel uncomfortable with the appearance of your smile, and your oral health could be compromised as well. But we can address your tooth loss and prevent these complications with dental bridges. In today’s blog, your Cleveland, TX, dentist talks about securing a set of dental bridges.
The Causes and Impacts of Missing Teeth
Our teeth could be lost due to an injury to your smile, or as a result of a cavity or infection that isn’t treated in a timely manner. In most cases, the advanced stage of gum disease is responsible. Regardless of the cause, the loss of your teeth leaves behind a gap in your smile. This gap not only alters the appearance of your smile, but could also lead to misalignment, jaw joint strain, and an increased risk of cavities and gum disease. Not to mention a higher chance of TMJ disorder and bruxism (teeth grinding). But the most insidious complication is the loss of mass and density in the jawbone. This occurs when the body suspends the flow of calcium and phosphates to the jaw, causing it to break down. The risk of additional tooth loss increases and you’re more likely to have issues eating your favorite foods and speaking clearly. An older appearance is more likely as well!
Creating A Traditional Dental Prosthetic
A traditional dental bridge can be used to address minor cases of tooth loss, usually between one and three in a row. To begin, we will numb your smile and remove structure from the teeth on each side of the gap. We then take detailed digital images of these abutment teeth from multiple angles, and use this in a lab setting to design and fabricate the finished product. Your prosthetic will contain new teeth with a crown on one or both sides. The prosthetic is made from ceramic, which we can shade to blend with your smile and which also provides a durable chewing surface. We connect the crowns to the abutment teeth with a bonding agent, and your new teeth can stay in place for 10 to 15 years!
Securing Them with Dental Implants
While a traditional bridge prevents complications like misalignment and trouble eating, only an implant bridge can prevent the breakdown in the jaw structure. With this point, we insert one to two dental implants into the jaw. The body sees these as natural roots and bonds with them. We then connect the prosthetic to them. Your implant bridge requires no loss of natural tooth structure, and can last for decades to come, maybe even a lifetime. Again, we take steps to ensure they look natural!
Talk To Your Cleveland, TX Dentist About Addressing Missing Teeth
We want to help you maintain a complete and beautiful smile for years to come. For more information on treating minor missing teeth, then contact your Cleveland, TX, dentist, Dr. Uhrenholdt, by calling (281) 592-1234.