Let’s Bridge The Gap Caused By Tooth Loss

woodland hills dental bridgesWhen you lose one tooth, or possibly up to three or four in a row, then you may need a prosthetic to avoid the major complications caused by tooth loss. To address more minor cases like this, you could benefit from a custom-made dental bridge. In today’s blog, your Woodland Hills, CA, dentist discusses how we bridge the gap in your smile.

The Gap in Your Smile

Why do we lose our natural teeth anyway? Well, this could be due to a number of different factors. For example, poor oral hygiene habits, such as improper brushing and flossing or infrequent visits for dental cleanings, could allow plaque buildup to weaken enamel and inflame gum tissues, boosting the risk of decay, infection, and gum disease. These issues, when untreated, could lead to tooth loss. In fact, the advanced stage of gum disease, periodontitis, is the most common cause.

The gap could cause nearby teeth to shift from position, leading to misalignment and with it, a greater risk for additional cavities and periodontal troubles. The strain on the jaw and the imbalance caused by missing teeth also increases the risk of TMJ disorder and bruxism too. Finally, you could have trouble eating and speaking properly!

The Dental Bridge

The dental bridge can replace between one and three teeth in a row. The prosthetic contains your new teeth, which we refer to as pontics, with dental crowns attached to each end. The prosthetic is made from materials like ceramic, which can endure serious bite forces and also be shaded to blend with the rest of the smile seamlessly. This can offer 10 to 15 years of tooth replacement, and is easy to clean and maintain. You simply brush and floss around them as you would natural teeth.

Creating and Securing Your New Teeth

To create and place them, we will begin by numbing the teeth on either side of the gap, known as abutment teeth. We then remove structure from them to make room for the crowns, and take detailed digital images. We combine these images to create a 3D computer model, which we then use to design and craft the prosthetic. In a dental lab, the final product is created and when you return to the office, we will attach the crowns to the abutment teeth to secure your pontics into place. You can now smile with confidence again! If you have any questions, then contact our team today to learn more.

Your Woodland Hills, CA Dentist Replaces Missing Teeth

Treating your minor tooth loss can help preserve more of your smile. If you would like to find how we replace missing teeth, or schedule a visit, then contact your Woodland Hills, CA dentist, Dr. Naminik, by calling 818-347-5124.