Losing between one and three teeth can have a major impact on your smile and overall oral health. In order to fill the gaps in your smile, you may need a bridge. While they’re typically held in place with crowns, we also have an option that uses dental implants to offer Garland, TX, patients a whole and healthy smile. In today’s blog, we’re going to look at dental bridges and discuss the impact of tooth loss.
The Health Risks of Tooth Loss
As we touched on above, tooth loss isn’t just a cosmetic concern. The gaps in your smile may cause surrounding teeth to drift from their natural positions, leading to misalignment. Poor alignment is often linked to tooth decay and gum disease, as thoroughly cleaning your teeth by brushing and flossing becomes difficult. Often, missing teeth also place pressure on your jaw joints, leading to painful issues such as TMJ disorder and bruxism (teeth grinding). When your body realizes you’re missing tooth roots, then it stops supplying the surrounding jawbone with doses of calcium and phosphorus. Deprived of these key nutrients, the bone tissue dissolves, leading to an aged appearance and further tooth loss.
The Benefits of a Dental Bridge
In order to fill the gap, we may suggest a bridge. The prosthetic contains pontics, or new teeth, with crowns attached to each end. We prepare the natural teeth on either side of the gap in your smile, making room for the crowns that will secure your new teeth firmly in place. They tend to last between 10 and 15 years. We create them using natural looking materials, such as ceramic. They prevent many of the problems people face due to tooth loss, such as misalignment, difficulty speaking and eating, and embarrassment of the smile’s appearance.
Fixed With Implant Dentistry
We also have a more secure and longer lasting alternative. We can fix your bridge in place with dental implants. We won’t need to rely on crowns, or remove tooth structure from healthy teeth. Instead, we insert the dental implants into the jawbone. They bond with the bone tissue through a process known as osseointegration, which prevents loss of jawbone density and preserves your facial structure. We then attach the new teeth to the implants, offering a lifelike tooth replacement that could last decades with proper care and attention. If you have any questions about replacing missing teeth, then contact our team today.
Ready for a Custom Dental Prosthetic?
We want to offer a lifelike solution to your missing teeth. For more information on our natural looking dental bridges, schedule a consultation by calling Mai Dentistry in Garland, TX, today at 972-530-0552. For our patients who don’t speak English, our office is fluent in both Spanish and Vietnamese.
