Losing a tooth is a difficult experience, whether related to a sports injury, advanced gum disease, or a planned extraction. It hurts to chew, and there’s a gap in your teeth that makes you feel too self-conscious or embarrassed to smile.
If you’ve lost a tooth, it’s a good idea to look forward and focus on solutions to replace it. Fortunately, modern dentistry offers several ways to replace missing teeth, and one that dentists often recommend for their patients is dental bridges.
How a Dental Bridge Replaces Missing Teeth
A bridge is a dental prosthetic used to replace one or two missing teeth in a row. It is customized for your unique smile, and when it’s in place, it restores health, function, and aesthetics.
To create a bridge, dental crowns are placed on teeth adjacent to the gap in your smile, and an artificial tooth called a pontic is suspended between them.
With your new dental bridge, you can chew comfortably again and smile with confidence. Also, placing an artificial tooth in the gap helps prevent movement of surrounding teeth that can lead to teeth grinding, bite problems, and TMJ disorders.
Customizing Your Bridge to Improve Smile Aesthetics
There are oral health problems associated with missing teeth, but your biggest concern is likely how the noticeable gap impacts your smile.
When your dentist designs your bridge, they consider your smile’s aesthetics and customize your restoration to look realistic and natural. All-porcelain bridges look remarkably realistic because they mimic the appearance of tooth enamel. When color-matched to your smile, your bridge will blend seamlessly with your smile.
The result is improved oral health, comfortable function, and a beautiful smile you’re proud to share with others.
Is a Dental Bridge Right for You?
A dental bridge in Aurora, CO is the right choice when teeth adjacent to the gap are healthy enough to support the crowns that secure it in place. If they’re not, our prosthodontist, Dr. John Chen, may recommend a dental implant or partial denture as the best choice for you.
If you have a missing tooth and wonder if a dental bridge is the solution, please call Uptown Comprehensive Dentistry and Prosthodontics to schedule an appointment.