When you have between one and up to three missing teeth in a row, your Brighton, MA, dentists may suggest a dental bridge. However, for a more secure and longer lasting option, we could secure your dental bridge with one or more dental implants! In today’s blog, we’re going to talk about the benefits of tooth replacement.
The Long-Term Risks of Tooth Loss
When you lose even one tooth, this could still mean the onset of serious complications for the health and stability of your smile. For example, misalignment could develop due to the gap in your smile, as surrounding teeth drift from position. Poor alignment not only alters the appearance of the smile, but increases the risk of tooth decay and gum disease. For others, the missing tooth could alter the balance of your bite and strain the jaw joints, making complications like TMJ disorder and bruxism (teeth grinding) more likely as well. But the most damaging complication is the fact that the body suspends the flow of calcium and phosphorus to the jawbone around your lost tooth. Without these nutrients, the bone tissue loses mass and density, breaking down and causing further tooth loss!
Crafting Your Custom Dental Bridge
For minor tooth loss, a bridge is an excellent option. We create them based on detailed impressions and digital scans we gather of your smile. These images enable us to design a prosthetic with accuracy and precision. We will also make them from lifelike materials, which can be color-matched to blend with your smile and also provide a dependable chewing surface.
Securing Your New Teeth with Implants
Typically, we would remove structure from natural teeth on either side of the gap in your smile. The bridge consists of one or more new teeth with crowns attached to each end. The crowns would then be placed onto the abutment teeth. However! If we insert and place one or more dental implants into the jawbone, we attach crowns to them to preserve natural tooth structure. In addition, the body sees the implants as new roots, resuming the flow of nutrients to prevent changes to the jaw ridge and prevent further tooth loss. As a result, your new teeth could last for decades to come, instead of only about ten years. If you have any questions about addressing tooth loss with implant-secured prosthetics, then contact our team today. We want to help you once again smile with confidence!
Do You Have Questions About Implant Dentistry?
Our team is ready to help you on the path to a full smile. To learn more about prosthetics and implant dentistry, 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.
