Losing a tooth, or as many as three to four in a row, could lead to issues with the health, function, and appearance of your smile. Long-term issues could even include further tooth loss and an older appearance! But we can take on minor tooth loss with a custom and long-lasting prosthetic. In today’s blog, your Omaha, NE, dentist talks about securing tooth replacement with dental implant bridges.
The Factors Behind Tooth Loss
Why do we lose our teeth in adulthood? For some, this could be due to issues like tooth decay and infection. Others may lose a tooth due to an injury to the smile. The most common reason is due to advanced gum disease, as the periodontitis stage is linked to adult tooth loss. When you suffer from tooth loss, this could lead to misalignment as teeth drift due to the gap in your smile. The pressure on your jaw could mean the onset of TMJ disorder and bruxism (teeth grinding). But the most severe complication is the loss of mass and density in your jaw. When you lose teeth, the body will stop sending doses of calcium and phosphorus to the jaw. Without these nutrients, the jaw gradually breaks down, leading to further tooth loss and an older appearance. But we can help prevent these complications with dental implant bridges!
Dental Bridges
The dental bridge is a prosthetic that can address between one and four missing teeth in a row. The prosthetic will contain new teeth, referred to as pontics, with crowns attached to each end. Made from ceramic, the prosthetic can support daily bite forces and pressures, and also be shaded to blend with the smile too. Typically, the crown portions will be attached to the abutment teeth on each side of the gap. The bridge is secure, but only lasts about 10 to 15 years on average, and this does nothing to prevent the breakdown in the jaw. But that’s not the case if we secure them with dental implants!
Support with Dental Implants
Our team could insert two implant posts into the jaw, where they act as new roots and stimulate the growth of the jawbone structure to prevent the loss of mass and density, so your new teeth can remain in place for decades to come, possibly a lifetime. We then attach the crown portions of the prosthetic to the implants. If you have any questions about our dental implant bridges, or if you have missing teeth you want to see addressed, then contact our team today.
Learn More About Replacing Missing Teeth By Calling Our Team
Our team wants to help you enjoy better oral health by tackling your lost teeth with a custom dental prosthetic. Call Pacific Hills Dental in Omaha, NE, today at (402)330-2243.
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