After tooth loss, finding a suitable replacement is crucial for your continued oral health and overall wellbeing. Even just one missing tooth causes difficulty eating and speaking properly, and poor nutrition and low self-confidence are likely to occur as a result of gaps in the smile. Your cosmetic dentist in Superior, WI provides dental bridges for tooth replacement. We know you’re wondering about the procedure — like what is a dental bridge? And how are dental bridges applied, anyway? Let’s take a look at these and other important questions about tooth replacement below.
What Is a Dental Bridge?
A dental bridge is a set of dental crowns firmly attached to each other. Together, they replace one or more missing teeth. A sturdy crown is applied to each natural tooth surrounding the gap, and the replacement teeth fill the space in between. The dental bridge restores the patient’s ability to chew and speak. It also prevents the surrounding teeth from drifting out of place.
How Is a Dental Bridge Applied?
With CEREC technology, it’s possible that your dental bridge can be created and placed in just one visit to the dentist’s office. First, the teeth surrounding the gap will be prepared to receive the dental crowns. This process involves reshaping the tooth enamel to make room for the crowns that fit on top.
After the natural teeth have been prepared, your dentist will take digital impressions your teeth and feed this information into the CEREC milling machine. The dental crowns are created one by one out of smooth, beautiful dental porcelain. To apply the bridge, the anchoring crowns are applied on the natural teeth. The prosthetics fill in between.
Caring for Your Bridge
You can expect your bridge to last for many years with proper maintenance. Keep up with your good oral hygiene habits, like brushing for two minutes, twice a day and flossing daily. As you clean, concentrate on the area at the base of the bridge to remove food particles and prevent plaque and tartar buildup. Your bridge cannot develop cavities or infection, but the teeth and gums surrounding it are just as vulnerable to these issues as ever.
Don’t Delay Tooth Replacement — Contact Us Today
If you are missing one or more teeth, their replacement is crucial for your continued health and wellbeing. The repercussions of missing teeth are significant — but a dental bridge restores your ability to chew and speak with ease, and to smile confidently once again. It also prevents the orthodontic issues that often accompany tooth loss.
Act quickly to have your missing teeth replaced. If you’d like to learn more about the dental bridge in Superior, WI, and whether or not it is the right replacement option for you, please get in touch with us to schedule an appointment at Hill Avenue Dental today.