If you have a gap in your smile caused by a missing tooth, then we can help with prosthetic dentistry. Creating and placing a dental bridge, we can secure an option that fills the gaps and looks natural too. In today’s blog, your Astoria, NY, dentist talks about replacing a missing tooth with a custom and lifelike dental bridge!
The Possible Causes of a Missing Tooth
How do we lose a tooth? Well, you could end up with a gap in your smile as a result of an injury to your face or jaw. For others, untreated tooth decay and infection could lead to a missing tooth or require the extraction of one to prevent the spread of infection. The most common factor behind adult tooth loss is actually periodontitis, the advanced stage of gum disease. When you lose a tooth, even just one, you should talk to our team about a prosthetic to prevent serious complications!
The Importance of Treating Lost Teeth
When a tooth is lost you now have an empty space in your smile, which can lead the surrounding teeth to drift with time. This creates misalignment, changing the appearance of your smile further and increasing the risk of tooth decay and gum disease. The impact of tooth loss can also strain your bite balance and jaw joints, leaving you vulnerable to issues like TMJ disorder and bruxism (teeth grinding). You can also feel embarrassed about your appearance, which could be a factor in a reduced quality of life. But with a dental bridge, we are ready to offer a complete smile again!
Placing a Dental Bridge
To begin, we will numb the abutment teeth, the natural teeth on each side of the gap in your smile. We then remove structure from them and take detailed digital images and measurements of the area and these teeth, using the information in a dental lab setting to design and fabricate your dental bridge. The prosthetic will contain a new tooth with crowns on one or both ends. Made from ceramic, we can color-match it to blend with your smile. The material is quite durable too. When the prosthetic is ready, we will connect the crown portions to the abutment teeth to secure your new tooth in place.
We could also discuss attaching them to dental implants instead of natural teeth, which provides a longer-lasting option! If you have any questions about our dental bridges, then contact our team today.
Schedule Your Appointment for Tooth Replacement
A dental prosthetic custom-made for your smile can offer lifelike results and a comfortable fit. To schedule your next appointment with our team, contact Jeffrey Leibowitz, DDS in Astoria, NY by calling 718-728-8320 today.
