We don’t just use crowns to repair damaged teeth or help address infection or advanced tooth decay. We can use one to two of them to support a custom and lifelike dental prosthetic. In today’s blog, your Austin, MN, dentists talk about treating minor tooth loss with one of our natural-looking and durable dental bridges.
The Risks of Minor Tooth Loss
When you lose a tooth, this doesn’t just mean an embarrassing gap in your smile. The surrounding teeth could begin to drift from position as a result of the exposed gap, causing dental misalignment. With an uneven smile also comes a greater risk of cavities and gum disease. The missing tooth also alters the balance of your bite, increasing the risk of issues like TMJ disorder and even bruxism (chronic teeth grinding). Without treatment, these factors could even increase the risk of further tooth loss. Which is why a bridge is so important!
Crafting a Custom Prosthetic
A dental bridge is a great way to replace a single missing tooth, or to address as many as three in a row. We begin by numbing the teeth on either side of the gap and then removing structure from them. These are known as abutment teeth. Next, we gather detailed digital images of them and use these to design and craft a dental prosthetic. The new teeth and crowns will be made from ceramic, a material that can absorb daily bite force, but can also be shaded to blend with the smile seamlessly. The bridge will consist of replacement teeth, or pontics, with crowns attached to either end.
Securing Your New Bridge
The crowns will be attached to the abutment teeth with a powerful bonding agent, so your new prosthetic can stay in place for years to come, often as much as 10 to 15 in most cases. To keep them strong and protect the teeth anchoring them in place, you need to brush and floss daily, and clean the spaces between the top of the gums and the bottom of the bridge. Be sure you see us for a checkup and cleaning every six months too! These actions help safeguard your smile and limit the risk of further tooth loss.
If you have one or more missing teeth, don’t let the health, function, and beauty of your smile suffer. Instead, why not schedule an appointment with us to receive a lifelike and durable dental prosthetic? We can help ensure you continue to enjoy a complete smile!
Do You Have Questions About Addressing Tooth Loss?
We want to help rebuild and restore your smile with a lifelike and custom-made dental prosthetic. To schedule your next dental appointment with the Potach and Mitchell Dental Clinic, contact our Austin, MN dental office today by calling 507-437-6312.
