When you lose one or more teeth, your smile will begin to decline in function and your appearance will change. It can become more difficult to talk to others and eat like normal. However, that’s where a dental bridge comes in. To replace your missing teeth and renew your smile, a dental bridge can be used. 

Risks of Missing Teeth

We need all of our teeth to be able to eat, chew, and speak like we’re meant to. However, these aren’t the only issues that having missing teeth can cause. The American Academy of Periodontology explains that missing teeth can cause a number of issues, such as:

• If you miss multiple teeth, the skin around your mouth won’t be properly supported and will begin to sag — creating the appearance that you are older than you actually are. 
• Missing teeth will make it more difficult to chew your food correctly and can even begin to affect the way you speak. 
• Even if you’re only missing one tooth, emotional consequences have been reported. People with missing teeth have been found to feel less confident about their smile.

Dental Bridge for a Missing Tooth

If you are already missing one or more teeth, you have more than likely experienced a negative effect on how your smile functions, looks, and your overall dental health. A dental bridge is used to replace one missing tooth or a few missing teeth in a row. A bridge is made up of one or more artificial teeth, called poetics, and two dental crowns. Once in place, a dental bridge improves your smile by:

• Restoring the natural shape and volume of your face.
• Improving your ability to properly chew, speak, and eat.
• Enhancing the beauty of your smile.
• Preventing the remaining teeth from moving into the space left by missing teeth.
• Relieving uneven stress on the bite.
• Replacing an unwanted removable partial denture. 

Here at Mountain Aire Dentistry, each dental bridge is custom, so it will fit your smile comfortably and aesthetically. 

Dental Bridge Procedure 

Consultation

Getting a dental bridge placed involves a consultation appointment where we will examine your mouth and take X-rays to get a full, well-rounded look of your current dental health. From there, we will discuss what treatment option is best for you. If a dental bridge is the best treatment for your missing teeth, the process will continue. 

First Appointment 

It’s important to note that most dental bridges rest on the healthy teeth on each side of the gap, which is known as abutment teeth. For these teeth to be prepared for the procedure, they will need to be shaped. Impressions will be taken and then bridges can be constructed. They will be made to match your surrounding natural teeth so your smile looks cohesive. 

For some patients, a mental implant may be needed to anchor the bridge, especially if the teeth near the gap are not healthy and strong enough to support the bridge alone. 

Second Appointment

Once the bridge is ready, your dentist will clean the underlying teeth before using dental cement to attach the dental bridge in place on the abutment teeth. It is normal for the dental bridge to feel uncomfortable and weird at first. However, patients typically get used to it quickly. 

 Bridge Care

The key to maintaining the success of your dental bridge is proper dental hygiene. Bridges can be lost for over ten years if you take care of them properly. Decay and damage to the remaining healthy teeth can lead to complications with your bridge. To take good care of your smile after your treatment, Colgate recommends these simple tips: 

DO:

• Brush twice daily for two minutes with a soft-bristled toothbrush and floss once daily.
• Floss once daily to clean all areas around the bridge. 
• Use fluoride toothpaste and antiseptic mouth rinse.
• Stick to a diet high in fiber. 
• Schedule regular visits with your dentist and dental hygienist.

DON’T:

• Eat hard and sticky items like caramel, nuts, popcorn kernels, candy, or ice.
• Indulge in excessive amounts of sugary or acidic food and drinks. 
• Smoke or use tobacco products. 

If you have any questions on how to clean around your dental bridge or what to avoid to keep it intact, Dr. Bockrath and our team are available to answer any questions you have. 

Make an Appointment with Mountain Aire Dentistry

To learn more about bridges and our other tooth replacement options, we encourage you to call our convenient Broomfield, Colorado office today to make an appointment: (303)-731-7755. Don’t let missing teeth affect your health and confidence, learn more about your tooth replacement options now!