When you suffer the loss of one or more teeth, whether due to injury or poor oral health, this impacts more than just the attractiveness of your smile. Over time, tooth loss is linked to an array of complications, from misalignment and trouble eating, to an aged appearance and further tooth loss. But by addressing tooth loss with a replacement, such as a bridge, your Woodland Hills, CA, dentist can help save your smile!
How Does a Bridge Work?
A dental bridge is literally used to bridge the gap in between one or more missing teeth. We can use them to provide replacement for up to three lost teeth in a row. The prosthetic itself consist of one or more pontics, or replacement teeth. Crowns attached to each end of these pontics are placed onto the abutment teeth in your smile. The abutment teeth are just the natural teeth one each side of the gap, which we remove structure from to make room for the crowns. Once we place the crowns, they secure the teeth in place.
Ensuring a Lifelike Appearance
To ensure they not only fit comfortably and preserve your bite’s balance, but have a lifelike appearance too, we need to custom-make each one specifically for a patient’s smile. We start by removing structure from each tooth on either side of the gap. We then take detailed impressions and measurements. We use this information to design and craft the finished product, which we create from materials like ceramic. The prosthetic will be tinted to blend with the rest of your smile, and the material will be durable enough to absorb bite forces and provide a dependable chewing surface.
Crown and Implant Support
The most common option is secured with crowns, and tend to stay in place for 10 to 15 years. They need to be replaced as the jaw ridge changes shape. These changes occur because the body stops providing essential nutrients to the jawbone around missing tooth roots. But! If we insert dental implants and attach a prosthetic to them instead, this stimulates the growth of jawbone tissue. The prosthetic has the potential to last decades, maybe even a lifetime! If you have any questions about avoiding the loss of your natural teeth, or if you have gaps you want to address with a custom and lifelike dental prosthetic, then contact our team today.
Do You Have Questions About Our Dental Bridges?
Our team wants to ensure you continue to enjoy a full and stunning smile. For more information on our custom prosthetics, then please schedule a consultation by calling Woodland Hills Dental Arts in Woodland Hills, CA today at 818-347-5124. We also proudly welcome patients from Thousand Oaks, Westlake, Encino, Sherman Oaks, and all surrounding communities.