It can be hard to ignore the impact of tooth loss on your life, especially when you try to enjoy meals and snacks. A single missing tooth can change how you bite and chew, which can lead to excess wear and tear on remaining teeth and problems with jaw pain and sensitivity. Unfortunately, you also have to worry about the teeth next to a gap becoming less secure because they have less support, which can lead to more losses and further bite troubles! To deal with the cosmetic and functional effects of tooth loss, you can receive a permanent prosthetic dental restoration. One option is to have a custom dental bridge put in place. At our Ankeny, IA dental office, we can make plans to restore your full smile by providing a bridge that improves your appearance and also gives you better bite support!
The Effect Tooth Loss Can Have On Your Daily Life
Tooth loss is more than just a problem with your smile you try to keep hidden. Our bite function works best when we have all of our upper and lower teeth in place to apply and absorb pressure from biting and chewing. If you have to change your bite to avoid a space where a tooth is missing, you can overwork certain teeth, which in time can make them more vulnerable to visible wear and tear, as well as problems that can call for restorative dental treatment. You also have to be careful about applying bite pressure to an area with a gap, as the teeth on either side of your missing tooth have less support, meaning they are more likely to start loosening and be lost themselves!
Receiving A Custom Dental Bridge
A dental bridge is a prosthetic appliance that contains a replacement tooth, referred to as a pontic, along with a pair of dental crowns. The crowns are placed over the teeth next to your gap. The pontic, which resides between the crowns, fills the space where your tooth once resided. This appliance can dependably absorb biting and chewing pressures, so you can enjoy better bite function and a full diet range. The restoration is designed to be a good cosmetic fit, so it can appear as though you have a full smile again.
What Else Can Be Done To Restore Your Incomplete Smile?
As you review your options for restorative treatment with your dentist, you can start to learn about the benefits of holding a bridge, or another restoration, with a dental implant. Dental implants stabilize prosthetic teeth by anchoring them to your jawbone. They are set directly into bone, occupying space where a tooth’s roots previously resided. With implants, we can provide stability for your restoration, better bite function, and more support for neighboring teeth. We can also protect you against jawbone deterioration after tooth loss.
Talk To Dental Impressions About Receiving A Custom Dental Bridge
Your Ankeny, IA dentist is ready to restore your full smile if you have missing teeth! To learn more about our services, please contact Dental Impressions at (515) 965-0230 to schedule a visit.
