Why Replace a Lost Tooth with a Dental Bridge in Houston

Dental bridges are one of the best options for replacing a lost tooth. Teeth may be removed from the mouth for a number of reasons, including decay, accident, or on the recommendation of a dentist. When the tooth comes out, it leaves a gap that some people may find unappealing.

This gap may be unappealing to the patient as it makes them feel self conscious, but that gap can actually pose a different, more serious problem.

What Happens When a Tooth is Lost?

Everyone knows what it’s like to lose a tooth. When they are growing up, children seem to lose teeth all the time. So why is it such a big deal if an adult tooth comes out?

Granted, there’s no extra tooth to replace an adult tooth, which means the gap stays. When a child loses a tooth naturally, it will be replaced by an adult tooth.

But the presence of the gap is a problem for a different reason. When there is a missing tooth, the other teeth will begin shifting position to close that gap. And it’s not just the teeth on either side; a tooth directly above a gap may start to lower its position.

The major problem with this, aside from being self conscious about the appearance of the shifted teeth, is that this can lead to an uneven bite and gum disease.

How Can This Problem Be Corrected?

There are a few ways to address a gap in the teeth. The first way is to use a spacer. Second, dentures can be used to replace several lost teeth. Lastly, dental bridges can replace a tooth with a more permanent fixture.

●     Spacer
A spacer is a very low cost way to address a tooth gap. Like the name implies, it leaves the space of the gap between the adjacent teeth.

The spacer is typically made from a metal frame and it prevents the other teeth from shifting around it.

●     Dentures
Dentures are great for replacing several teeth for a relatively low cost. However, there is a lot of extra maintenance that comes with them.

Dentures are a temporary fixture in the sense that they can’t stay in your mouth all the time. They must be removed to be properly cleaned, or they may breed bacteria and cause an infection.

●     Dental Bridges
Dental bridges are the best tooth replacement because they not only look and feel like your original teeth, they are also a more permanent fixture than dentures.

Once a dental bridge is installed, it stays there. It may need a replacement 15 or 20 years later, but it doesn’t need to be removed to be cleaned. It can be taken care of simply by brushing your teeth as normal.

Dental Bridges in Houston

When you are looking to get dental bridges in Houston, your Houston dentist will need to prepare your teeth for one.

This involves filing down the teeth adjacent to a gap that will serve as anchor points for the bridge.

Next, a cast is created so the dental lab can make a false tooth and crowns that will perfectly fit your mouth. You will receive a temporary bridge in the meantime while the permanent bridge is created.

On your return visit, your Houston dentist will install the bridge and make sure it fits securely and comfortably. If so, it will be cemented into place, and you’re new dental bridge will be done!