When you lose a tooth, we could address the gap with a strong, lifelike prosthetic that is also more affordable than dental implants. In today’s blog, your Livonia, MI, dentist will look at how we replace missing teeth with a bridge, and how we ensure they look natural and last for many years to come.
The Dangers of Your Missing Teeth
What happens to our smile once we lose a tooth? Following tooth loss, the balance of your bite is altered, so the risk of painful jaw joint disorders like TMJ disorder or even bruxism (teeth grinding/clenching) could be more likely to develop. For others, the remaining teeth could begin to shift since there is now a gap in the ranks, causing misalignment and with it, a great risk of tooth decay and gum disease. You may also feel uncomfortable with your new appearance, with impacts your social interactions and quality of life. To avoid these major complications, you should talk to our team about replacement options.
Crafting a Custom Prosthetic
If you have between one and up to three missing teeth in a row, then a custom bridge is likely the best option. The prosthetic literally bridges then gap in your smile, consisting of crowns attached to the replacement teeth, known as pontics. We place the crowns onto the abutment teeth, or the natural ones on each side of the gap, supporting your new smile. We begin by administering a local anesthetic and then removing structure from the abutment teeth. Next, we take detailed impressions and images of these teeth and the gap itself, which we use in a dental lab to design the prosthetic. The materials we craft them with are durable, and able to absorb daily bit forces and pressure. The material can also be tinted to blend with the rest of your smile, offering a lifelike appearance.
Placing and Maintaining Your Bridge
When your new prosthetic is ready, our team will attach the crowns to the abutment teeth with a powerful bonding agent. To ensure your new prosthetic can last for many years to come, you should take steps to avoid the gum disease and infection, safeguard your natural teeth and your new ones at the same time. We also suggest a checkup and cleaning as well. If you have any questions about how we treat missing teeth and restore oral health, then contact our team today.
DO YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT TREATING TOOTH LOSS?
Our team wants to help you maintain optimal oral health by filling the gaps in your smile with a custom replacement options. For more information on addressing lost teeth, then call the office of James Stewart, DDS in Livonia, MI, today at (734) 425-4400.