You need to act when adult teeth are lost. Ignoring missing teeth may cause remaining teeth to drift, affecting your smile and disrupting your bite — which can lead to other serious tooth and jaw problems. The area around the missing tooth is also more susceptible to disease and decay. In the past, a removable denture was your only choice for tooth replacement. Today, implants are often considered the ideal solution. But what do you do if an implant isn’t an option?
Build a Bridge “Over” the Gap
A bridge has one or more artificial teeth, known as pontics, that are cemented or resin-bonded onto the teeth on either side of the missing teeth. Because they are more stable, a bridge is far more comfortable than a removable partial, and it won’t wear down the underlying bone as quickly.
The process to install a bridge takes several steps, with the first being to prepare the teeth on either side of the missing tooth or teeth. These abutment teeth need to be shaped to accept a crown. The next step is to make impressions of the teeth, which will serve as a model for the pontic and the crowns that are being created.
On a following visit, your temporary bridge, if one is necessary, is removed and the new bridge with the pontic attached to the crowns will be fitted and adjusted. Once fitted properly, the crowns are cemented into place and you are all set to show off your beautiful new smile.
Why a Bridge?
A fixed bridge is permanent and stable and can last for many years with a good oral hygiene regimen and regular checkups. The pontic and crowns are natural-looking and color-matched to blend in with the existing teeth. Bridges can be used to:
- Instill confidence and self-esteem by restoring your smile
- Eliminate jaw and muscle pain by distributing the forces in your bite properly
- Restore normal chewing and speaking ability
- Restore the shape of your face from the shrunken, prematurely aged appearance tooth loss can cause
- Prevent remaining teeth from shifting and drifting out of place
Is a Bridge Right for You?
If you’re missing a tooth or several adjacent teeth, you have replacement options that we can discuss with you. There are many benefits to using dental bridges, and if you live in the Uvalde, Texas, area, contact us today for an appointment to find out if a bridge is the right tooth replacement choice for you!
