Tooth Bridges

Tooth Bridges

Without diligent and consistent preventive dental care, patients are vulnerable to tooth loss. Injury, deep decay, and periodontal disease can all compromise tooth health, requiring tooth extraction. Fortunately, there is no need to live with an embarrassing gap in your smile because East Coast Centre can restore your appearance and ability to speak and eat with a fixed dental bridge.

Replacing missing teeth is vital and filling the gaps after tooth loss is more than a cosmetic issue. Each tooth has its place and helps keep the other teeth in their places. However, when an adult loses a tooth, the extra room created in the dental arch allows the remaining teeth to drift. This makes the teeth crooked and alters the bite so that some teeth do not meet up properly with opposing teeth, and it also places more chewing forces on the fewer remaining teeth.

Any number of issues, including teeth grinding, excessive tooth wear, tooth fracture, and TMJ disorder can occur if the missing tooth is not replaced with a dental bridge or other prosthetic.

A bridge can replace a single tooth or several teeth. The bridge is made of Zirconia replacement teeth, with Zirconia crowns on both ends. These crowns are affixed to the abutment teeth, which are the teeth on each side of the gap.

The bridge placement procedure works much the same as with crown placement. Under local anesthesia, the abutment teeth are prepared for crowns, and an impression is made and sent to the dental laboratory with specific instructions for the size, shape, and color of the bridge. After your bridge is crafted, you will return to East Coast Centre to have it cemented in place, and you will walk away with a beautiful new smile and a renewed ability to bite, chew, and speak normally.

Call to schedule an appointment today with Dr. Chickey and his team.