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Whether due to untreated gum disease or injury, many of us will need to grapple with tooth loss at some point. Losing even a single tooth could lead to serious complications for your oral health. In order to help Mansfield, TX, patients suffering from tooth loss, we may suggest a prosthetic. Let’s talk about how bridges address missing teeth.

The Health Risks of Tooth Loss

What makes missing teeth so dangerous for our smile’s health? Well, the gap in your smile may cause surrounding teeth to drift, leading to misalignment. In addition, missing teeth may lead to strain on your jaw joints, which may increase the likelihood of TMJ disorder or bruxism developing. Patients with tooth loss often encounter difficulties eating their favorite foods, or may find themselves avoiding social situations due to embarrassment. Missing teeth impact everything from your overall oral health to your quality of life.

Creating and Placing Your Bridge

With a dental bridge, we replace between one and three lost teeth in a row, making them a perfect choice for minor tooth loss. To create the prosthetic, we need to take detailed impressions of your smile. Using these impressions, experts at a dental lab then fabricate the prosthetic from natural looking and durable materials, such as ceramic or zirconia.

The bridge consists of the pontics, or new teeth, with crowns attached to each end. We place the crowns onto the natural teeth sitting on either side of the gap. The crowns help secure the new teeth, providing a sturdy replacement option that lasts between 10 and 15 years. In the fabrication process, care will be taken to ensure the crowns and pontics look natural and blend with your smile. For example, we can shade ceramic to ensure it matches your surrounding teeth. After we prepare your teeth and take impressions, you will wear a temporary as your final prosthetic is being constructed. When you return for the second visit, we will place your new teeth.

Maintaining Your New Teeth

You will need to care for your new teeth just as you would your natural ones. You should brush your teeth twice daily for two minutes each session. We also urge you to floss nightly. You will also need to clean the space between the top of the gums and the bottom of the bridge, where food could potentially accumulate. If you have any questions about tooth loss, then please contact our team today.

Do You Have Missing Teeth?

If you have lost one or more of our natural teeth, then talk to our team about possible replacement options. To enjoy a complete smile, schedule a consultation by calling our dentist’s office in Mansfield, TX, today at 817-473-6227.