Losing a tooth can leave behind an embarrassing gap in your smile, and lead to the onset of some major oral health complications. But we can take on minor tooth loss with lifelike crowns and bridges. In today’s blog, your Leawood, KS, dentist talks about tooth replacement with a dental bridge.
The Causes and Risks of Tooth Loss
What happens to cause missing teeth? For some, severe decay or infection could lead to missing teeth, as could an injury to the face or jaw. The most common cause of tooth loss is periodontitis, the advanced stage of gum disease that severs the connections between the gums and teeth. When you lose teeth, even one tooth, this could cause teeth to shift and lead to misalignment, which alone increases the risk of tooth decay and gum disease. The stress on the jaw joints from issues like TMJ disorder and bruxism (teeth grinding) could damage your smile too. You could also have issues eating your favorite foods and speaking clearly. But we can help stop these complications by addressing your tooth loss in the early stages with a dental bridge.
Creating Your Crown and Bridge
To begin, we will numb the natural teeth on each side of the gap in your smile. We then remove structure from them and take detailed digital images of these prepared teeth and the gap. With this information, we will design and fabricate your new teeth in a lab setting. The completed bridge will contain new teeth with crowns attached to each end. Made from ceramic, this prosthetic will be shaded to blend with your smile, and will also be able to handle daily bite forces and pressures too.
Attaching Your New Prosthetic
When your new teeth are ready, you will return to the office for placement. We will connect the crown portions to the abutment teeth, which securely anchors your new teeth in place. You will now be able to smile with confidence and enjoy your favorite meals again, with a prosthetic that can last about 10 to 15 years on average. If you have any questions about how we take on missing teeth with the placement of a custom and lifelike dental bridge, or if you have gaps that need attention, then contact our team today to learn more. We want to help you smile with confidence and enjoy long-lasting tooth replacement!
Schedule a Visit for a Custom Dental Prosthetic
Our team is ready to address your missing teeth with a natural-looking and durable tooth replacement! To learn more about filling the gap in your smile and improving your oral health, or to schedule your next visit with us, call Dreem Dentistry in Leawood, KS, today at (913)681-5500.
