Could Dental Bridges Be Supported With Implants?
October 7, 2021
A dental bridge is a great way to address more minor cases of tooth loss, preventing major complications. While most are held in place with crowns, we could offer a longer-lasting option by securing them with one or more dental implants. In today’s blog, your Kansas City, MO, dentist talks about how we craft and place your implant bridge.
The Dangers of Minor Tooth Loss
When you lose a tooth, even if it’s only one, this could still mean trouble for your smile. In addition to causing an embarrassing gap, this could also cause nearby teeth to drift from their usual positions, resulting in misalignment. This means further changes to your smile’s appearance, and also an increased risk of cavities and periodontal disease. The missing tooth could also upset your bite’s balance, a factor in many cases of TMJ disorder and chronic teeth grinding (bruxism). The gradual loss of mass and density due to a missing root could commence, which means a greater risk of further tooth loss.
Crafting Your Lifelike Prosthetic
Often for cases of tooth loss limited to one to three in a row, we could offer support with a dental bridge. Traditionally, these will be held in place with crowns attached to abutment teeth. After we numb the area around your teeth, we remove structure from the ones on either side of the gap. We take detailed digital images and also measurements, so in a dental lab we can design and craft your bridge. The finished product contains new teeth with crowns on either end. The crown will be connected to the abutment teeth and will support your new teeth. For many, this prosthetic could last about 10 to 15 years. Replacement is necessary as the gradual loss of mass and density alters the jaw ridge, so a new prosthetic is needed to ensure a proper fit and balanced bite.
Support With Dental Implants
However, instead of supporting them with crowns on abutment teeth, we could preserve your natural structure by inserting one or more dental implants into the gap. For a single missing tooth, we could attach a crown to the implant post with an abutment. For two to four in a row, we could insert two posts and connect a bridge to them. Since the post stimulates the growth of jawbone tissue, the jaw ridge won’t alter and your new prosthetic could last for decades to come. If you have any questions about how we treat tooth loss, then contact our team today.
Do You Have Questions About Our Bridges?
We know how to create a replacement for your lost teeth that looks and functions like natural ones. To learn more about how we replace your missing teeth, then schedule a consultation by calling Cosmetic & Implant Dentistry of Kansas City, MO, today at 816-427-4018.