Do you have between one and three missing teeth in your smile? If so, this could mean serious trouble for your oral health! To prevent major issues with the health, function, and beauty of your smile, then your Garland, TX, dentist may suggest treatment with a custom dental bridge.
The Factors Behind Missing Teeth
How do we lose one of our natural teeth in the first place? Well, this could happen due to an unfortunate accident or injury. Untreated tooth decay or an infection could be responsible too. However, untreated gum disease, which leads to periodontitis, is the most common cause of adult tooth loss. When we lose a natural tooth, the gap could cause nearby teeth to shift, creating misalignment and a greater risk of tooth decay and gum disease. Gaps in your smile also upset bite balance and could place strain on your jaw joints, so TMJ disorder and bruxism (teeth grinding) is now more likely. Not to mention complications with eating or speaking, or with the feeling of embarrassment from the space in your smile.
Creating a Custom Prosthetic
When people come to us with very minor tooth loss, such as a single lost tooth or up to three in a row, then we could prescribe a dental bridge. The prosthetic contains new teeth, which we call pontics, with crowns on either end. We create them from ceramic, so they absorb daily bite forces and pressure, but we can also color-match them to blend with the rest of your smile. We begin by numbing the smile and gently taking structure away from the teeth on either side of the exposed gap, which we call abutment teeth. We then take detailed images and measurements, which are then used to design and craft a custom prosthetic.
The Benefits of Your Dental Bridge
When your bridge is ready, we will place the crowns onto the abutment teeth, which keeps the pontics firmly in place. You have a prosthetic that looks natural and could last up to 15 years in some cases. You avoid misalignment and strain on your smile, and can smile and eat with confidence again. We can also offer tips for protecting your prosthetic and helping it last longer, and we can manage the factors behind your missing teeth too. If you have any questions, then give us a call!
DO YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT PROSTHETIC DENTISTRY?
We’re ready to help address the gaps in your smile with a custom prosthetic. To learn more about the process of treating your missing teeth, then please schedule a consultation today by contacting Mai Dentistry in Garland, TX at (972)-530-0552. You can also find our practice at 6850 N Shiloh Rd, Suite C Garland, TX 75044.
