When you try to live with tooth loss, you can quickly discover that a gap in your smile hurts more than just the way you look. You can find it more difficult to bite and chew food because you have to work around an absent space in your teeth, which can put pressure on your jaw and cause discomfort. Having a missing tooth also makes you vulnerable to losing more, which means tooth loss can grow as a concern over time. At our Ankeny, IA dentist’s office, we can work with you to restore your smile by providing a permanent prosthetic appliance. One way we can do this is with a dental bridge, which remains in place thanks to a pair of crowns connected to your appliance.
How A Dental Bridge Closes A Gap Left By Tooth Loss
A dental bridge “bridges” the space where a tooth was lost with a pontic, or replacement tooth. At either side of the pontic are a pair of dental crowns. Each one is placed on a tooth at either side of the gap, giving it enough stability to let you bite, chew, and speak without issues. The bridge is made from materials that ensure that your restoration looks the way your natural tooth did, so your smile is effectively restored.
Undergoing Treatment With A Dental Bridge
A dental bridge will be carefully designed, which means your dentist will take close measurements of your bite, and the space where you have a gap in your smile. With the right measurements, we can make sure that your restoration is the right size to look attractive and fit comfortably. Because the appliance is secured with a pair of dental crowns, it can be put in position without the need to perform oral surgery.
Should Dental Implants Be Included In Plans To Restore Your Smile?
For some patients, we may recommend using a dental implant to hold an appliance in position. An implant is set directly into your jawbone, which makes it possible to secure a restoration without modifying any of your natural teeth. When an implant is in position, it can actually stimulate your jawbone to trigger the delivery of nutrients to the bone. This protects you from losing bone density over time.
Talk To Your Ankeny, IA Dentist About Receiving A Dental Bridge
At our Ankeny, IA dentist’s office, we are prepared to help patients regain their complete smiles when they have been affected by tooth loss. Through the placement of a custom dental bridge, we can improve your ability to bite, chew, and speak! To find out more about the prosthetic services we offer, or to discuss any other oral health matters, contact Dental Impressions at (515) 965-0230 to schedule a visit.
