When you have suffered from missing teeth, this could alter how you eat, complicate speech, and leave you feeling embarrassed about your smile. However, replacing missing teeth not only means a full smile again, but this could also prevent further tooth loss. In today’s blog, your Olathe, KS, dentist talks about how our dental bridges help smiles.
The Impact of Minor Tooth Loss
We could lose an individual tooth to issues like tooth decay or infection without treatment. Missing teeth also occur due to injuries. Gum disease, or the advanced stage of it, are the most common cause. Even the loss of one to the teeth in a row could mean serious trouble. The gap could cause embarrassment and impact your social interactions. You could also have trouble eating your favorite foods and speech may be difficult. The changes to the balance of your bite could strain your jaw joints and lead to issues like TMJ disorder and bruxism (teeth grinding). Finally, the alignment of your smile could change and the resulting malocclusion could lead to tooth decay and gum disease.
Traditional Dental Bridges
A bridge is used to address between one and three missing teeth in a row! We start by administering a local anesthetic and gently removing structure from the teeth on either side of the gap, which we refer to as abutment teeth. Next, we take detailed digital images and measurements, which we use to create a 3D computer impression. In a lab setting, this allows us to design and craft the custom prosthetic with precision and accuracy. The finished product will be crafted with ceramic, a material that we shade to blend with your smile and that absorb daily bite forces and pressures. The crowns on either side of the new teeth will be connected to abutment teeth, securing your new teeth firmly in place.
Support With Dental Implants
Traditional bridges, the kind we discussed above, tend to last 10 to 15 years on average, but require replacement as the jaw ridge changes shape. However, if we insert dental implants into the jaw, they prevent these changes so your prosthetic can last for decades. We don’t need to remove structure from natural teeth either, as we connect the crowns to the free-standing dental implants instead. If you have any questions, give us a call today!
Does Your Smile Have a Missing Tooth?
We would like to help replace lost teeth to restore your smile and prevent complications. Schedule an appointment today and learn more about replacing missing teeth. You can also call E-Care Dentistry in Olathe, KS, today at 913-210-1701. Find our office at 15010 S Black Bob Road Olathe, KS 66062. We also proudly serve patients from Overland Park, Lenexa, and all surrounding communities.