When you lose a tooth, this not only causes an embarrassing gap in your smile, but could also impact your overall oral health. However, by replacing missing teeth, we help maintain the health and beauty of your smile. In today’s blog, your Brighton, MA, dentists will look at how we create and place a custom-made dental bridge.
The Causes (and Dangers) Of Missing Teeth
We could lose teeth to infection, advanced tooth decay, injury, or in most cases, periodontitis. The advanced stage of gum disease, periodontitis, is the most common cause of adult tooth loss. When we lose teeth, this could cause nearby teeth to drift from position, leading to misalignment. Many people experience pressure on the jaw joints as missing teeth upset bite balance. Over time, this could then lead to complications like TMJ disorder and persistent teeth grinding (bruxism). To avoid these issues, as well as difficulties eating and speaking, we want to address your tooth loss quickly.
Creating a Custom Prosthetic
If you have between one and three lost teeth in a row, then we may opt for a dental bridge. The prosthetic itself consists of the pontics, the term for new teeth, with dental crowns attached to each end. We attach these crowns to abutment teeth, which secures the new ones firmly in place. To create one, we remove structure from the abutment teeth, which sit on either side of the gap in your smile. We then take detailed impressions and images, which we use in the design process. The final product will be made of strong and lifelike materials, such as porcelain, which we can tint to blend with the rest of the smile seamlessly.
Placing and Maintaining Your New Smile
When we complete the prosthetic, we will attach the crowns with a powerful bonding agent, which secures your teeth. We will then suggest that in addition to brushing and flossing your natural teeth, you also clean around your prosthetic, including the gap between the top of the gums and the bottom of the bridge. Keeping your smile clean helps lower the risk of gum disease, which could threaten your prosthetic and remaining natural teeth. You should also see us every six months for a checkup and cleaning appointment. If you have any questions about how we treat poor oral health, or if you have one or more lost teeth, then contact our team today.
Do You Have Questions About Treating Tooth Loss?
Our team would like to help you enjoy a full and beautiful smile with a custom-made prosthetic. To learn more about treating tooth loss, then schedule a consultation by calling Brighton Family Dental Group in Brighton, MA, today at (617) 562-5210. We proudly welcome patients from Brighton, Watertown, and all surrounding communities.
