When you have a gap in your smile too big for a single tooth dental implant, we could secure a prosthetic. In today’s blog, your Livonia, MI, dentist talks about how we treat major tooth loss with an implant-supported bridge, one that looks and functions like natural teeth!
The Dangers of Advanced Tooth Loss
Losing several of your teeth could complicate your daily life. You could find your meal options limited, and clear speech could be difficult too. There could be discomfort, and the risk of misalignment, TMJ disorder, and bruxism (teeth grinding) increases as well, so your overall oral health will suffer. As the body suspends the flow of key nutrients to the jawbone around your missing teeth, which could lead to further tooth loss or even a prematurely older appearance with time. This is why we urge our patients with missing teeth to seek replacement. With a dental implant prosthetic, we can create a replacement that looks and functions like natural teeth.
Crafting a Dental Bridge
First, let’s talk about the prosthetic itself. We want your finished bridge to look natural and provide a durable chewing surface too. To begin, we will take detailed digital images of your smile and use them to create a 3D computer impression. In a lab setting, this will be used to design and fabricate the prosthetic. The bridge will contain new teeth, which we refer to as pontics, with dental crowns attached to each end. We craft them from materials like ceramic, which are very durable and able to withstand daily bite forces and pressures. The material can also be shaded to blend seamlessly with the rest of your smile, so you don’t feel self-conscious when you laugh or smile.
Securing Them With Dental Implants
Instead of relying uncrowns attached to your natural teeth, we will connect the crowns to one or more dental implants inserted into your jaw. These will be inserted through oral surgery and will bond with the jawbone. The implants then stimulate the growth of bone tissue to prevent the breakdown that causes further tooth loss and an aged appearance. We connect abutments to the implant posts, and then attach the completed dental bridge. You now have a new smile that looks great, functions like natural teeth, and could last for decades to come with proper care and attention.
DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT MISSING TEETH?
We would like to help address tooth loss with a lifelike solution. To learn more about supporting a prosthetic with implant dentistry, then call James Stewart, DDS, dental implant office in Livonia, MI, at (734) 425-4400. We also serve the residents of Farmington, Plymouth, Dearborn Heights, and all surrounding communities.
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