When it’s time to replace a missing tooth, many patients choose a dental bridge for a secure, reliable solution. This conservative, restorative dentistry treatment eliminates the hole in your smile and delivers a repair that both looks and feels natural. Dental bridges are available from the experienced dental team at Downtown Dental in Los Angeles.
What Is a Dental Bridge?
A dental bridge is aptly named because it creates a bridge between two teeth to fill the space left by a missing tooth. Here’s how it works:
- The teeth on either side of the gap are filed down and shaped to accommodate the bridge.
- The bridge is clasped to these nearby, treated teeth.
- The bridge supports a false tooth in the middle to fill the hole.
- Porcelain crowns are bonded to the neighboring teeth to anchor the bridge in place for a secure dental restoration.
A bridge is a non-surgical way to replace one or many teeth. A bridge uses the adjacent teeth as anchors to support the missing tooth or teeth. With today’s dental advancement – a bridge can be fabricated in a fairly short period of time, using a metal or nonmetal foundation. Don’t let that missing tooth affect he way you speak eat and smile. Bridges yield immediate results that last a lifetime. Ask your dentist what type of bridge maybe right for you.
For a dental bridge to be a viable solution, the teeth surrounding the space in your smile must be healthy so they can serve as a concrete foundation for the restoration. Once in place, the bridge is a stable solution that prevents the wear of surrounding teeth and maintains the integrity of your smile.
Your budget, preferences, and your dentist’s recommendations all influence the materials of which your bridge is made. Usually, the choices include porcelain fused to ceramic or porcelain fused to metal. No matter which option is used, the results will be a strong, customized dental solution that completes your smile.
Are You a Good Candidate for a Dental Bridge?
The reason for your missing tooth must be addressed before any dental restoration can get underway. If you have suffered dental trauma that knocked the tooth out, the area will need to be examined to make sure no pieces remain. Nearby teeth will also need to be checked for stability before the appropriate restoration can be decided upon.
If a tooth needed to be extracted because of a severe tooth infection that could not be fixed with root canal therapy, the area will need to heal before a dental bridge or any other restoration can be put in place. If your tooth was lost because of gum disease, your entire mouth will need to be treated for this infection to make sure it is healthy and capable of supporting a dental restoration.
The location of your missing tooth will also impact whether you are a good candidate for a dental bridge. Depending on the circumstances, other restorations may need to be considered, like dental implants.
The Importance of Replacing Missing Teeth
It can be tempting to ignore the space left behind by a missing tooth, especially if it is a molar and not all that noticeable when you smile. However, this is a risky decision – every tooth in your mouth has an important job to do, including helping you bite, chew, and speak.
If you do not replace a missing tooth, you can develop any of the following problems:
- Floating teeth: Over time, teeth on either side of a missing tooth will float and shift to fill the space it left behind. This can cause tissue damage, misalignment, and gaps.
- Altered face shape: Each tooth is a placeholder in your smile that both supports and stimulates the jawbone. A missing tooth can affect the shape of your face and make you look older and lead to a compressed look.
- Difficulty eating: When you eat, food will settle in the open area of your mouth, and the hole will also affect how you bite and chew.
- Poor speech: If a missing tooth is prominent, your articulation and diction will be affected, which will make the tooth’s absence that much more noticeable.
Get a Dental Bridge in Los Angeles
You want to smile, speak, bite, and chew with confidence again. A dental bridge can deliver on all these wishes and, with proper care, last for decades and keep your smile complete and beautiful. The only question you need to answer is whether a dental bridge is right for you. Schedule a consultation with Dr. Mungcal and his team at Downtown Dental in Los Angeles to learn more.
Dr. Don Mungcal
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Dr. Don Mungcal, a distinguished dentist in Los Angeles, combines over three decades of experience with a deep commitment to patient care. A UCLA graduate, he earned his dental degree with honors from the University of the Pacific Dental School in 1990. Dr. Mungcal has been recognized as a Best Dentist in Downtown by the “Los Angeles Downtown News” for four years in a row and served as an instructor at USC Dental School. As an active member of the California Dental Society, among other prestigious organizations, he continually updates his expertise through extensive continuing education.
