When you lose one tooth, or up to three in a row, then the function and health of your smile will suffer, not to mention your smile’s appearance too! In order to help tackle minor tooth loss for our Brighton, MA, dentists, our team will create and place a long-lasting and natural-looking dental prosthetic known as a bridge.
The Changes Tooth Loss Brings
When we lose a tooth, this leaves an embarrassing gap behind in our smile. For surrounding teeth, changes could occur as they drift from position as a result of this gap, causing misalignment. With poor alignment comes a greater risk of tooth decay and gum disease, as thorough brushing and flossing becomes more difficult. For others, minor tooth loss could upset bite balance and place pressure on the jaw joints, increasing the risk of issues like TMJ disorder and bruxism (teeth grinding). Missing teeth are also linked to difficulties eating and problems speaking clearly as well!
Creating a Custom Prosthetic
To prevent the complications listed above, we suggest addressing your tooth loss as soon as possible. In addition to offering care to address any underlying causes, we also replace the lost teeth. For people with between one and three missing teeth in a row, we may create and place a dental bridge. We start by removing structure from the teeth on each side of the gap, which we refer to as abutment teeth. We then take detailed impressions, using them to create the prosthetic. The bridge will contain one or more new teeth, with crowns attached to each end. We craft them from materials that not only look natural, but absorb bite forces too.
Placing Your New Dental Bridge
When your prosthetic is ready, you will return to the office so we can place the crowns onto the abutment teeth, which secures the new teeth firmly in place. The bridge could last between 10 and 15 years with proper care and attention, and allow you to eat and speak without difficulty, and smile with confidence again! To keep your prosthetic strong, and protect your smile from issues that cause tooth loss, you need to brush and floss daily, and that includes your prosthetic. Also, clean the spaces between the top of the gums and the bottom of the prosthetic, where food accumulates. Finally, make time to see us for a checkup and cleaning every six months!
Do You Have Questions About Replacing Missing Teeth?
Our team wants to treat your lost teeth by placing a quality bridge or denture. To learn more about treating your 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.
