When you have lost a tooth, or several in a row, then you could benefit from a dental prosthetic. For example, a bridge could help address minor tooth loss with lifelike results. In today’s blog, your Lake Orion, MI, dentist talks about how we design and craft custom and natural-looking dental bridges to help your smile!
The Oral Health Complications of Tooth Loss
When we lose teeth, even a single tooth, this could lead to serious complications for your smile. For example, the gap could enable nearby teeth to drift from position, which creates misalignment and increases the risk of complications like tooth decay and gum disease. The changes to your bite balance could increase the risk of TMJ disorder and bruxism (teeth grinding). You could also have trouble eating your favorite foods, speaking clearly, and could feel self-conscious. But by addressing the gap in your smile with a dental bridge, we can prevent these complications and improve the overall health and beauty of your smile.
Creating a Custom Dental Bridge
We know every smile is different, which is why our dental prosthetics are always custom-made for our patients. For example, our team will begin by numbing the teeth on each side of the gap to keep you comfortable as we remove structure from them. We then gather detailed digital images and measurements of these prepared teeth, which we use in a lab setting to design and craft your custom bridge. The prosthetic will contain new teeth with crowns attached to each end, all made from ceramic, a material that can handle bite forces and also offers a lifelike appearance. We then attach the crown portions to the abutment teeth, the ones we removed structure from, securing your new teeth firmly in place. On average, your prosthetic will last about 10 to 15 years.
Keeping Your Smile Whole
To help prevent further tooth loss and to safeguard the abutment teeth supporting your new prosthetic, we recommend taking time to brush and floss daily, cutting back on the sugar and starch in your diet, and seeing our team for checkups and cleanings every six months. These actions help protect your smile! If you have any questions about our holistic and metal-free approach to tooth replacement, or if you have missing teeth that need attention, then contact our team today to learn more. We want to help you smile with confidence again.
Enjoy Lifelike Dental Prosthetics With Lake Orion Family Dentistry!
We want to help you enjoy a full and beautiful smile with our custom dental prosthetics. To find out more about our holistic approach to tooth replacement, then give us a call at Lake Orion Family Dentistry at (248)693-6213!
