All of your teeth play an important role in speaking, chewing, and maintaining proper alignment of the other teeth. Tooth loss doesn't necessarily have to occur as you age. But, if you do lose teeth, they must be replaced to maintain proper positioning and function of your mouth. Fortunately, there are options for correcting tooth loss.
A bridge – a device used to replace missing teeth — attaches artificial teeth to adjacent natural teeth, called abutment teeth. Bridges are firmly attached and are not removable.
Bridges are applied by either placing crowns on the abutment teeth or by bonding the artificial teeth directly to the abutment teeth.
If you're missing one or more teeth, you may be aware of their importance to your appearance and dental health. Your teeth work together for many daily functions including eating and speaking. With missing teeth, it's difficult to do these things. Missing teeth can and should be replaced. Bridges are a great way to restore your dental health and appearance.
Oral functionality and appearance are important reasons for placement of a bridge. A bridge also helps support your lips and cheeks. The loss of a back tooth may cause your cheeks to fold in and your face to look older. As the back teeth are lost, the bite collapses and the tip of your nose gets closer to the tip of your chin.
Keeping your teeth for a lifetime is the most important reason for a bridge. Teeth were designed to complement each other. Unusual stresses are placed on the gums, the jaw bone, and other oral tissues when teeth are missing, causing a number of potentially harmful disorders.
Increased risk of gum disease has proven to be one of the most detrimental side effects of missing teeth and can be minimized with a bridge.
Missing teeth can also contribute to speech disorders, as they assist in making many of the sounds we use to speak clearly.
The bridge process usually takes two or four appointments to complete, depending on the number of teeth. At the first appointment, we will prepare the teeth on either side of the gap by removing a portion of the enamel and dentin.
Since the bridge must be fabricated very precisely to ensure the correct bite and to match the opposing teeth, impressions of the teeth are taken for the necessary laboratory procedures. Sometimes try-ins of the bridgework in its preliminary stages is accomplished to insure all is as planned.
Bridges are typically cemented to the natural teeth next to the space left by the missing tooth. A pontic (false tooth) replaces the lost tooth. Crowns, which are cemented onto the adjacent natural teeth, provide support for the bridge.
A strict regimen of brushing and flossing will keep the bridge and surrounding teeth clean. This is of critical importance, since the bridge relies on the health of the neighboring teeth for support.
Crown and bridgework is a very reliable solution for major dental problems caused through accidents, diseases, or wear and tear. Major problems can usually be corrected using these techniques.