If you have suffered from tooth loss, we can help. A dental bridge can offer a way to treat a single missing tooth, or as many as three in a row. In today’s blog, your team at Dental Impressions in Ankeny, IA, talks about completing a smile with a custom dental bridge.
The Causes and Dangers of Tooth Loss
How do we lose our natural teeth? For some, minor tooth loss could be due to an injury to the face or jaw, or possibly untreated decay or infection that causes a tooth to fall out or be extracted. For some, the presence of gum disease could be the main factor behind adult tooth loss. When we lose teeth, even one or two in a row, this gap could cause teeth to shift, creating misalignment that threatens your oral health, bite balance, and appearance. The strain on your jaw joints could leave you vulnerable to painful disorders like TMD or even bruxism (teeth grinding). You could also have issues with mealtime or even clear speech. To avoid these concerns, we can provide a complete smile again with a dental bridge.
Creating a Custom Dental Prosthetic
How do we create your dental bridge? Our team will first need to numb the teeth on each side of the gap in your smile, known as abutment teeth. Once we numb these, we will remove structure from them. Our team then takes detailed images and measurements of the prepped teeth and the open space, which we use in a dental lab setting to design and craft your prosthetic from durable and lifelike materials, such as ceramic. We can shade this to blend with your smile. The dental prosthetic will contain new teeth with crowns attached to each end, all made from durable and lifelike materials.
Securing Your New Tooth
When your dental bridge is ready, we will attach it. The crown portions will be connected to the abutment teeth, which secures your new tooth or teeth firmly in place. This can address a single lost tooth or as many as two to three in a row. With proper care and attention, your new prosthetic could last for years to come, as many as 10 to 15 in some cases. If you have any questions about how we address tooth loss with a custom bridge, or about how we protect your natural teeth from being lost, then contact our team today to learn more and use your dental benefits before they expire!
Dental Impressions Takes on the Gaps in Your Smile
Our team wants to help treat tooth loss and restore your smile. To schedule an appointment and replace a lost tooth, then call Dental Impressions in Ankeny, IA today at (515) 965-0230.
