If you are living with tooth loss, it seems safe to assume you are familiar with the problems an incomplete smile can create for an individual. Depending on which tooth is missing, a gap in your smile can make you feel deeply self-conscious. It can also make biting, chewing, and even speaking more difficult. At our Mansfield, TX dentist’s office, we are prepared to meet with patients who want to close a gap left by a missing tooth. One solution we offer is the placement of a custom dental bridge. A custom dental bridge is a permanent prosthetic appliance, one that we can place without requiring oral surgery. Your bridge will be custom-made to ensure that it fits, and that it looks natural.

The Serious Consequences Of Tooth Loss

Tooth loss can be a big problem for your smile, but there are also consequences for your oral health that should be acknowledged. Someone who has just one missing tooth can be more likely to experience TMJ disorder, and they can have a more difficult time avoiding the loss of more teeth. Because your loss can interfere with your bite function, you may become too dependent on certain teeth and wear them down gradually, leading to more problems that demand restorative dentistry.

Receiving Your Custom Dental Bridge

A custom dental bridge consists of two dental crowns between at least one pontic, the replacement tooth. Yours will only be made after careful measurements are taken to ensure that the restoration is the right shape and size. In addition to making sure the bridge is a good fit, the restoration can be tinted so that your crowns and replacement tooth (or teeth) will match your surrounding healthy teeth. After the crowns are capped over the teeth at either side of a gap, you will be able to trust the bridge to stay secure when you bite, chew, and speak!

What Else Can Be Done To Restore Your Smile?

Dental implants are placed through oral surgery. After they are set directly into your jawbone, and you are given time to heal, your dentist can place a custom restoration that stays secure and provides lasting support. Implants help with more than just stabilizing restorations. When you bite, chew, or speak with an implant-held restoration, the implant will stimulate the surrounding jawbone tissues, which will help to preserve its density and health.

Talk To Your Mansfield, TX Dentist About Placing A Dental Bridge

A dental bridge provided at our Mansfield, TX dentist’s office can restore your bite function, improve your smile, and help you avoid long-term issues like TMJ disorder. If you want to learn more about treatment with a bridge, or if you have questions about other approaches to prosthetic dentistry, reach out to Mansfield Dental Associates by calling 817-473-6227.