Do you have a gap in your smile? If you have lost a tooth, or as many as three or four in a row, then we could offer replacement with a dental bridge. This custom prosthetic is designed to look natural and last for years to come. In today’s blog, your Kansas City, MO, dentist talks about how we replace missing teeth with a dental bridge, and the options we offer!
Taking on Tooth Loss
You should seek replacement for your missing teeth, because the gap could lead to the onset of dental misalignment and related complications like tooth decay and gum disease. Missing teeth could also strain the jaw joints to cause TMJ disorder and bruxism (teeth grinding). Tooth loss is also linked to issues eating your favorite foods and also speaking clearly. But the most severe complications are the loss of mass and density, which happens when the body stops sending nutrients to the jaw around the missing roots. But we have options to fill the gaps, and even prevent the loss of mass and density in the jaw!
Dental Bridges
The dental bridge is a prosthetic that contains your new teeth, known as pontics, with crowns attached to each end. The prosthetic is made from ceramic, a strong material that can handle daily bite forces and also be shaded to blend with the rest of your smile. Our team will custom-made it by numbing the teeth on each side of the gap and then removing structure from them. We take detailed digital images of these teeth and the gap, which we use in a lab setting to design and craft the replacement teeth. When the prosthetic is ready, we attach the crowns to the abutment teeth to secure your new teeth. These tend to last about 10 to 15 years, requiring replacement as the jaw ridge changes shape.
Implant-Supported Bridges
With dental implants, we insert one to two into the jaw, and attach the crown portion of the prosthetic to them. This preserves tooth structure and also helps stimulate jaw growth to prevent the loss of mass and density, so your smile can stay intact and your new prosthetic can last for decades to come, possibly a lifetime, with proper care and attention. If you have any questions about how we tackle minor tooth loss with a set of dental bridges, or about our implant-supported options, then contact our team today to learn more. You deserve a full smile and we want to help make it possible!
Schedule An Appointment for Tooth Replacement
Our team wants to offer a solution to your missing teeth with dental prosthetics. Schedule an appointment with Delightful Dental in Kansas City, MO, today at 816-942-7669 today.