Cosmetic dentistry helps replace missing teeth by using dental bridges to close the gaps between your teeth. Bridges function as their name implies by bridging the spaces between your consecutively missing teeth with fake teeth called pontics. The artificial teeth create the appearance of having a complete set of teeth to restore your mouth functionality.
Missing teeth don’t just affect your appearance but also impact your confidence. The lack of one or more teeth in your mouth causes challenges when biting or chewing and affects your speech. In addition, the gaps between your teeth encourage misalignment because your remaining teeth start drifting toward the holes to close them. The drifting can occur in both jaws indicating that your teeth in the upper or lower jaw will also shift to create complications in your mouth. Finally, the missing tooth gaps become breeding grounds for food particles to remain trapped and encourage bacteria to develop infections in your mouth that need frequent treatments from dentists unless you decide to use dental bridges in Heath to close the edentulous gaps with dental bridges.
Cosmetic dentists can provide different versions of dental bridges after considering the location of the missing teeth and the proximity of healthy teeth neighboring them to help determine the dentist’s approach. Materials like porcelain generally help make dental bridges. However, you can also have dental bridges made from gold or alloys. Therefore you can consider your specific needs when selecting dental bridges from the Rockwall cosmetic dentist. You will also receive suggestions on the best options suited to your needs from the dental professional.
The three most popular versions of dental bridges cosmetic dentistry provide include:
If you consider dental bridges to replace your missing teeth, you must schedule at least two appointments with the cosmetic dentist in Rockwall for tooth preparation and placement of the restoration.
During your initial appointment, the dentist will examine the health of the neighboring teeth to the missing tooth gap before giving you local anesthesia to start the tooth preparation process. The technique is uncomfortable, but the anesthetics you receive help manage the discomfort. After tooth preparation, the dentist impressions the prepared teeth and the tooth gap for fabricating your customized dental bridges from a dental laboratory. Finally, you receive temporary acrylic bridges over the prepared teeth for protection until the dental lab returns your final restoration.
You must revisit the Rockwall dentist in approximately three weeks when the dental lab has returned your dental bridge. The dentist starts the second appointment by removing the temporary acrylic bridges and checking the permanent restoration for color and fit. All things being acceptable, the dentist bonds the two dental crowns on your healthy neighboring teeth to function as abutments or supporting teeth with a pontic or fake tooth between them using special dental cement to ensure it remains in place and doesn’t dislodge.
As you leave the dentist’s office with your artificial teeth, you receive after-care instructions from the dentist to ensure you extend the longevity of dental bridges for as long as possible.
Dental bridges are durable restorations for missing teeth with a lifespan of seven to ten years. However, if you intend to extend their longevity by another five years, you must maintain excellent dental hygiene, remaining extra cautious about brushing and flossing with specific attention to the dental crowns on your healthy teeth and the Pontic between them. Food particles and plaque can remain trapped around the dental crowns and beneath the false tooth. Therefore an investment in special tools to floss your teeth becomes necessary to ensure you don’t encourage infections in your mouth by permitting the accumulation of dental plaque around the bridges.
Besides the above, you must also refrain from indulging in harmful mouth-related habits like using your teeth as tools to open packages or biting fingernails if you have a Maryland bridge to prevent damage to the restoration and extend its longevity.
If missing teeth impact your smile or your mouth functionality, ARC 32 Family Dentistry helps close the gaps by providing dental bridges in a couple of visits. Consult them today and undergo the preparation process to receive your artificial teeth in three weeks to avoid the consequences of missing teeth.