If you have between one and three missing teeth in a row, then your smile may benefit from a dental prosthetic. With dental bridges, we have a lifelike and durable solution to minor tooth loss. In today’s blog, we’re going to talk about how we create and place these bridges, and the benefits they offer for the health and appearance of your smile.
How Does Tooth Loss Impact Smile Health?
Losing a tooth means more than just an embarrassing gap in your smile. Your surrounding teeth could actually drift from position due to the gap in your smile, which means the onset of dental misalignment. An uneven smile often leads to a greater risk of tooth decay and gum disease. For some, the gap in the smile could put pressure on the jaw joints, causing TMJ disorder or bruxism, two jaw joint disorders linked to headaches, jaw pain, and even damaged smiles. In order to avoid these complications, you should let your dentist known about your missing teeth as soon as possible.
Creating Your Custom Replacement Teeth
First, we will need to remove a little tooth structure from the teeth on each side of the gap in your smile. We then take detailed impressions and measurements of your smile, which we use to design and create your prosthetic, which will contain your replacement teeth, known as pontics, with crowns attached to each end. We create them using lifelike materials, such as ceramic, to ensure tooth replacement that offers strength and durability, a well as a natural appearance. We place the crowns onto the prepared teeth, which anchors the pontics firmly in place.
How Do I Keep My Prosthetic Strong?
A dental bridge requires care to stay bright and offer long lasting tooth replacement. Along with the rest of your smile, you should brush your prosthetic and floss around it. We also suggest cleaning the spaces between the bottom of the bridge and the top of the gums, where food particles could accumulate. Remember, the teeth securing your new prosthetic are still susceptible to tooth decay and gum disease, so routine care is crucial for maintaining a full and healthy smile. If you have any questions about dental bridges, or if you have one or more missing teeth, then please contact our team today.
Central Park Dentistry Offers Missing Tooth Replacement
At Central Park Dentistry, we want to help you enjoy a full and functional smile that looks completely natural. To learn more about our custom-made dental prosthetics, then schedule a consultation with Dr. Hansen by calling our dental office in Charles City, IA at (641) 228-1115. We proudly welcome patients from Osage, New Hampton, Greene, and all surrounding communities.
