Dental bridges are a great way to replace between one and up to three missing teeth in a row. Usually held in place with crowns, we can offer a longer-lasting option using dental implants. In today’s blog, your El Paso, TX, dentists will explain how we provide implant bridges that look great and last for many years to come!
The Health Risks of Tooth Loss
Don’t live with tooth loss, when missing teeth could cause serious problems for your smile’s health and function. For some, missing teeth could mean trouble speaking clearly, or even difficulty eating a variety of foods. You could develop misalignment as teeth drift from position due the gaps in the smile, causing changes to your smile’s appearance and leading to issues like TMJ disorder and bruxism. You could also lose mass and density in the jawbone, as the body no longer sends calcium and phosphorus the jawbone around the missing root. This complication could mean further tooth loss and an aged appearance over time!
Crafting an Appealing Bridge
To fill the gaps in the smile and prevent these complications, and to also preserve the beauty of your smile, you need a prosthetic. A bridge addresses a single lost tooth, or up to three in a row. The prosthetic itself will be created based on detailed impressions we take of your smile. We use the images and impressions to design a prosthetic in a dental lab that fits comfortably and restore balance to your bite. The prosthetic consists of the new teeth, known as pontics, with crowns attached to each end. We craft them from materials such as ceramic, which can absorb bite forces and also be tinted to blend with the rest of your smile.
Support with Dental Implants
At one time, we could only support the prosthetic by placing the crowns onto natural teeth on either side of the gap, which meant removing healthy structure from these teeth. The resulting bridge could only last about 10 to 15 years, requiring replacement as the jaw ridge changed shape.
However! By inserting dental implants, we stimulate the growth of bone tissue to prevent the loss of mass and density. The ridge doesn’t change shape and the prosthetic could last for decades to come. The crowns will then be attached to the implants, which saves natural tooth structure. Your new teeth could last for much longer, and still offer a lifelike tooth replacement.
SUNNY SMILES OFFERS TOOTH LOSS SOLUTIONS!
Sunny Smiles in El Paso, TX, is ready to help address minor tooth loss with a strong and long-lasting dental implants, which help restore the health, function, and beauty of your smile. For more information, call our Sunny Smiles office on N. Zaragoza Road at 915-849-9000.