When you have a gap in your smile, we could fill this with a natural-looking dental prosthetic. A dental bridge will match the rest of the smile and offer a lifelike appearance. We can even secure some with dental implants! In today’s blog, your Astoria, NY, dentist talks about creating and securing a dental bridge.
The Factors Behind Tooth Loss
Why does a natural tooth end up being lost? For some, this could be the result of an untreated cavity or possibly a dental infection. A serious injury or accident could also knock a tooth out. But the most common cause is actually periodontitis, the late stage of gum disease that loosens teeth and causes them to become lost. Even minor tooth loss, such as a single missing tooth, needs to be addressed to preserve the health, function, and appearance of your smile. Otherwise, complications like misalignment, TMJ disorder, and bruxism could develop. But with a prosthetic, we can preserve and protect your smile!
Creating a Bridge That Looks Natural
The dental bridge will fill the gap in your smile, offering a lifelike appearance. To begin, we will numb the area and then gently remove structure from the teeth on either side of the gap. Next, we take detailed digital images of the smile, and use them to create an impression. In a dental lab, this impression allows our team to design and craft the finished product. The prosthetic will be made from ceramic, which we can shade to blend with your smile and offer a lifelike appearance. The bridge will also be durable and able to absorb daily bite forces and pressures.
Securing Your New Prosthetic
The prosthetic will contain the new teeth, referred to as pontics, with crowns attached to each end. We will connect the crown portions to the abutment teeth, or the natural ones on either side of the gap. This will firmly secure your bridge in place, so you can eat your favorite foods again and smile with confidence. To help them last for up to 15 years, and to safeguard the teeth securing them, you need to brush and floss daily, and also clean the space between the top of the gums and the bottom of the prosthetic. These actions, along with regular checkup and cleaning visits, help your new smile truly last.
If you have any questions about replacing missing teeth with prosthetic dentistry, then contact our team today.
Your Astoria, NY, Dentist Offers Complete Smiles Again
We would like to help people enjoy complete smiles, with lifelike results. To learn more about our options for addressing one or more missing teeth, then schedule a consultation by calling Jeffrey Leibowitz, DDS, in Astoria, NY, today at 718-728-8320.
