Missing one or more teeth negatively affects oral health, appearance, and general well-being. Fortunately, modern dentistry provides suitable treatments for replacing such teeth. Some of the most frequent restorative procedures include dental bridges and crowns, both functional and cosmetic. This article focuses on how a dentist in Memorial City, West Houston, uses the following techniques to restore your confident smile.
Dental Bridges Connected To Natural Teeth
Connecting a dental bridge to two crowns involves fitting dental crowns onto the teeth on each side of the space and cementing the pontic. A cantilever bridge is a less complicated alternative to a conventional bridge because it joins a pontic with a single dental crown.
Why Restore Missing Teeth?
Leaving missing teeth untreated can lead to several complications:
- Shifting Teeth: Adjacent teeth can move into the gap and potentially cause misalignment of your teeth.
- Bone Loss: Spaces can lead to the wearing and tearing of jaw bones because they fail to receive signals to support their structure.
- Chewing And Speech Issues: Before proper orthodontic content, some foods are hard to chew, and some words cannot be pronounced well.
- Aesthetic Concerns: Spaces between your teeth can lower your confidence levels.
- Feel More Confident: People pay close attention to how a person’s teeth look because a healthy, beautiful smile is associated with a complete set of teeth.
Crowns and bridges solve this problem well, helping to restore the functionality and aesthetics of the oral cavity.
What Are The Steps To Getting a Dental Bridge?
- Evaluate Your Requirements
When patients lose a tooth due to periodontal disease or direct damage from sports or accidents, their dentists may suggest bridges as a solution. If a tooth is lost and not replaced promptly, the remaining teeth could slide into the gap, changing the bite as it should be.
- Choosing The Correct Kind Of Dental Bridge
A conventional bridge’s replacement tooth would have a crown attached to it on each side. Maryland bridges include cementing an artificial tooth to the two natural teeth on each side, whereas cantilever bridges connect the tooth to a single crown.
- Modifying and Reducing
The process of getting a dental bridge done is significant and will need many visits to the dentist. First, the dentist will use a local anesthetic to numb the area surrounding the affected tooth and gums. The next step is for the dentist to file the teeth in preparation for placing the crown.
- Placing The Artificial Teeth
Once the teeth have been reshaped, the dentist will take an imprint of the tooth that was lost and the nearby teeth. After taking the mold, a dental lab will create a unique bridge for you. Until the treatment is finished and the bridge is returned to the dentist, a temporary restoration will be provided to cover the space.
- Caring for Crowns And Bridges After Treatment
To ensure the longevity of your dental restoration:
- Practice Good Oral Hygiene: The general rule of thumb is to brush at least twice every day and floss daily.
- Avoid Hard Foods: Tooth grinding should be avoided since it may put pressure on the crown or the bridge, leading to damage.
- Regular Dental Visits: Preventive care includes reaching the practitioner’s office for check-ups and may help identify problems.
- Use a Night Guard: A night guard is helpful if you grind your teeth; regular use will protect your new restorations.
Conclusion
When a patient has lost teeth, a bridge is a great way to restore their smile. In addition to restoring normal tooth function and look, this dental item may help patients feel better about smiling again and reduce the risk of problems arising from untreated tooth loss.