Could a Bridge Last Decades?
February 3, 2021
Traditional dental bridges are often used to address minor cases of tooth loss, but on average they need to be replaced every ten years. But what if you could receive a bridge that lasts for decades to come, possibly even a lifetime? In today’s blog, your Kansas City, MO, dentist explains how this could be possible using dental implants.
Creating Custom Bridges
This option helps address between one and up to three missing teeth in a row, offering a solution for minor cases of tooth loss and preventing complications, such as misalignment, trouble eating or speaking, or poor bite balance and jaw joint strain. The prosthetic itself contains the new teeth, which are known as pontics, and attaches crowns to each end of these new teeth. We use materials like ceramic to craft them. Not only will these materials be able to absorb daily bite forces and pressure, but the material is translucent like tooth enamel and can be shaded to blend with your smile. The result is a prosthetic that looks natural. After taking detailed measurements and digital images of your smile, we begin designing and crafting the new prosthetic in a dental lab setting.
Placement
Typically, crowns will be attached to natural teeth to secure your new teeth. But with dental implant options, we actually insert one or more biocompatible titanium posts into the posts into the jaw. We then attach the crowns to these posts, which anchors your bridge in place without requiring natural teeth to lose structure. The dental implants then stimulate the growth of bone tissue, preventing the loss of mass and density in the jaw that alters shape and requires prosthetics to be replaced periodically. Now, your new smile could last for decades to come, possibly even a lifetime!
Protecting Your Smile
Remember, the key to a successful prosthetic is good oral hygiene. By preventing or managing issues like gum disease, you prevent implant failure and protect other natural teeth. We suggest brushing your teeth twice daily and flossing every evening before going to bed. Each session should take about two minutes, and the toothpaste you use should contain fluoride. You also need to floss thoroughly before bed as well. Make time to see us every six months as well, since a checkup and cleaning enables us to keep an eye on your smile and remove harmful plaque buildup. If you have any questions about addressing tooth loss with an implant-secured dental bridge, then contact our team today. We would love to help you enjoy a full smile once again!
Do You Have Questions About Implant Bridges?
A prosthetic could help restore function, health, and abuts to your smile once again. To learn more about replacing missing teeth, then schedule a consultation by calling Cosmetic & Implant Dentistry of Kansas City, MO, today at 816-427-4018.