A fixed bridge is a great way to address minor tooth loss and protect your smile from the long-term impacts of missing teeth. Each one is custom-made for your smile, offering quality tooth replacement. In today’s blog, your Astoria, NY, dentist will explain how we help transform and rebuild smiles with one of our custom dental prosthetics.
The Dental Bridge
A dental bridge is often prescribed to replace between one missing tooth and up to three in a row. Each one will be custom-made for your smile, which not only fills the gap in your smile, but also offers a balanced bite and an attractive appearance. The process starts with our team administering a local anesthetic and then gently removing structure from the teeth that sit on each side of the gap, also known as abutment teeth. Next, we take detailed digital images and measurements of this area, which we will use in a lab setting to design and craft your dental prosthetic!
Placement and Care
Each dental bridge is made from ceramic, a very strong material that we can also color-match to blend with your smile seamlessly, matching surrounding teeth. The material can also absorb daily bite forces and pressure, providing a dependable chewing surface. When your bridge is ready, we will connect the crowns to the abutment teeth with a powerful bonding agent, which secures the new teeth firmly in place. Each one has the potential to last 10 to 15 years. To care for them properly, you need to brush and floss them as you would your natural teeth. Also, clean the spaces between the top of your gums and the bottom of the prosthetic, where food particles could become trapped.
Long-Term Benefits
When you fill the gap in your smile, this helps prevent misalignment, which could occur if the teeth shift due to the gap in the smile. Preventing misalignment also helps you fight tooth decay and gum disease as well! Replacing lost teeth also prevents bite imbalance and jaw joint strain, preventing the onset of painful disorders like TMD or even bruxism (chronic teeth grinding). You will also be able to enjoy your favorite foods again, and about issues speaking clearly too.
As you can see, addressing your missing teeth can help you enjoy better oral health and function, and also smile with confidence again. If you have any questions about treating tooth loss with dental bridges, then contact our team today.
Do You Have a Missing Tooth?
We want to help you enjoy a complete smile again with a custom prosthetic. To learn more about rebuilding a smile following tooth loss, then schedule a consultation by calling Jeffrey Leibowitz, DDS, in Astoria, NY, today at 718-728-8320.
