When you lose a tooth (or more than one), this could cause problems for the function and beauty of your smile, leading to serious complications with time. To protect your smile and restore function, health, and beauty, your Des Moines, IA, dentist may suggest replacing lost teeth with a secure and lifelike dental bridge!
The Complications of a Missing Tooth
What happens when we lose a tooth? Well, the teeth on each side could begin to drift due to the gap in your smile. The resulting misalignment could change the appearance of your smile and increase the risk of tooth decay and gum disease. Losing teeth also makes negative changes to your bite balance, and puts pressure on the jaw joints, leading to a higher risk of TMJ disorder and chronic teeth grinding. For others, once the body suspends the flow of calcium and phosphorus the area of the jawbone around the lost tooth root, the jawbone could lose mass and density, increasing the likelihood of further tooth loss.
Designing Your New Smile
We start by removing structure from the abutment teeth, which sit on either side of the gap in your smile. We then take detailed images and impressions of your smile, which we use to design and craft your new prosthetic. The finished bridge will consist of pontics, or new teeth, with crowns attached to each end of the prosthetic. We use materials like ceramic to ensure they absorb bite forces and look natural.
Placing a Dental Bridge
There are actually two different options available. Most are secured with crowns placed on abutment teeth, securing the new teeth firmly in place. These tend to last 10 to 15 years on average, requiring replacement as jaw ridges change shape with time. However, we could also place the crowns onto dental implants, which are inserted into the jawbone. The implants mean natural teeth don’t need to lose structure, and they stimulate the growth of jawbone tissue to prevent the loss of mass and density. As a result, they can last for several decades in some cases. If you have any questions about addressing your minor tooth loss with a custom-made dental bridge, or about the benefits of securing them with one or more dental implants, then contact our team today. We want to help our patients maintain full and beautiful smiles!
Don’t Let Tooth Loss Harm Your Smile
A custom-made prosthetic looks great and also fits comfortably! In addition to bridges, we also have dentures and dental implants too! To learn more about addressing one or more missing teeth, then schedule a consultation with Dr. Burds by calling Gateway Dental Group in downtown Des Moines, IA, at (515) 244-9565.