Exploring Dental Bridges: A Comprehensive Guide for Mira Mesa Residents
Written by Scripps West Dental
Are missing teeth affecting the way you speak or chew? The loss of a tooth or several teeth can have a major impact on the appearance of your smile, confidence level, and your oral function. Fortunately, there are a variety of solutions available to help restore your smile, and dental bridges may be a good option for our Mira Mesa patients.
Why Replace Missing Teeth?
Missing teeth can have serious implications on your overall mouth, not to mention your appearance. When teeth are missing, surrounding teeth can—and almost always do—begin to shift out of place, which can affect the alignment of your bite. Misaligned bites can lead to a variety of problems, including gum disease, irregular tooth wear, and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder because of the strain on your jaws.
By replacing missing teeth as quickly as possible, we can preserve natural bite alignment and the integrity of your surrounding smile. Dental bridges are one popular option to consider.
What are Dental Bridges?
Dental bridges are an effective restoration that helps replace one or two missing teeth. A bridge consists of a pair of two crowns, which are placed on the healthy teeth on either side of the missing one. An artificial tooth or “pontic” is fused between the crowns, which is suspended over the open space to fill in your bite.
Traditional bridges are placed on natural teeth, which might also benefit from a protective dental crown. Implant-supported bridges are similar but are anchored onto dental implants and can replace up to 3-4 teeth at a time.
Cosmetic & Restorative Dentistry in Mira Mesa
Cosmetic dental bridges improve both the aesthetic appearance of your smile and your overall bite. The restoration is carefully matched to your surrounding teeth so that it blends in whenever you’re smiling or talking to other people. Our goal is to help your bite look whole and healthy again so that no one knows you had a missing tooth to begin with.
Benefits of Dental Bridges
There are numerous benefits to getting dental bridges, including:
Improved oral health: Bridges can help to keep surrounding teeth in place, which can prevent future tooth misalignment, accelerated dental wear, or orthodontic complications.
Better functionality: With a dental bridge, you can speak and eat like you did before you lost your tooth, which can improve your dietary intake and overall quality of life.
Improved confidence: Missing teeth can affect your self-esteem, and dental bridges can restore your confidence in your smile, giving you the freedom to laugh or pose in photos without thinking twice.
The Bridge Treatment Process: What to Expect
Getting a dental bridge typically takes two or more visits to our Mira Mesa dental office. During your initial consultation, Dr. Tasto will assess your oral health and discuss the best treatment options for you. When appropriate, we’ll also discuss other options that may be available.
If you decide that a bridge is the best solution, Dr. Tasto will then prepare the abutment teeth by removing a portion of the enamel to make room for the crown. Your teeth will be numb during this stage of treatment, so the only thing you’ll usually feel is a little pressure.
Next, we take an impression of the prepared teeth. This allows us to create a model, which will be used to design the custom bridge. While you wait for the bridge to be fabricated at our lab, Dr. Tasto may place a temporary bridge to prevent any sensitivity.
About two weeks later, we’ll remove the temporary restoration and install the custom bridge in its place. Dr. Tasto will check the fit and adjust it as needed to ensure that your bite is comfortable and functional, then use a permanent bonding agent to keep it in place.
How to Care for Your New Bridge
Caring for your new bridge is important for maintaining your new restoration. Be sure to brush your teeth twice a day with a soft-bristled brush and floss at least once daily. Flossing will remove food particles and plaque from between your teeth and underneath your bridge, limiting the chances of new decay or gingivitis and periodontal disease.
Dental Bridges in Mira Mesa
Is a dental bridge right for you? Call our dentist in Mira Mesa today to reserve an exam. We’ll be happy to answer all of your questions and recommend the best tooth replacement for your circumstances.
