So, you’ve lost a few teeth. You aren’t happy about it, but you also aren’t sure what to do.
You may be embarrassed by how this affects your smile. Yet, you may not be sure if you should replace your missing teeth.
We can say from a dental perspective that you should replace them. In this case, we may recommend dental bridges.
Bridges are one of the many restorative services we offer at Holladay Dental Studio. If you would like to learn if bridges would work for you, make the short drive from Salt Lake City to our dentist office in Holladay, UT.
Doing Nothing Is Doing Something
You may think that living with missing teeth is an option. It is, but that choice can have some detrimental consequences.
One of the considerations is the effect on your smile. You may think that you aren’t vain, so you won’t worry about your missing teeth.
That may be the case at first. But you may start to notice that other people don’t look at you quite the same way. A few people may even ask you what happened to your teeth.
These things can make you more aware of your missing teeth and possibly more self-conscious.
Some people become withdrawn as a result. Other people find other ways to cope with their feelings.
There is another consideration that may be more important. Losing just one tooth can affect the rest of the teeth in your mouth. Losing multiple teeth can compound those problems.
When you lose one tooth, it affects the health of your whole mouth. The roots of your teeth are anchored to your upper and lower jaw. As you bite and chew, your roots press into your jawbones. This encourages fresh growth in those bones and that keeps your jawbones healthy and strong.
If you lose a tooth, your jawbone loses some of the stimulation it has been receiving. Without that stimulation, you could lose up to 25 percent of your bone density in that part of your mouth within 12 months.
If you have lost multiple teeth, you could lose more bone mass.
The other consideration is that your teeth provide mutual support to one another. When you remove some of your teeth, the rest of your teeth lose some of their support. In some cases, the teeth will start to drift, which can make the problem more difficult.
The loss of bone density and the drifting also make it more likely that you will lose even more teeth.
How A Dental Bridge Can Help
We offer dental bridges made with multiple materials. One of the most popular styles is made with zirconium with porcelain. This is considered one of the most durable and strongest materials for dental restorations.
Just as important, these dental bridges look like natural teeth. When they are placed in your mouth, they will give you the appearance of a complete set of teeth.
It’s worth noting that a dental bridge can restore the function of your teeth as well.
The strongest and most effective type of dental bridge is one that is placed on dental implants.
Dental implants replace the missing roots of your teeth. Like your roots, they are anchored in your jawbone. Your dental bridge can be attached to one or more dental implants.
This combination can give you nearly all of your original bite force. This will allow you to continue eating all the foods that you enjoy for decades to come.
A traditional dental bridge is made by reshaping the teeth on either side of the gap between in your smile. This is the same process we use to prepare teeth for a dental crown.
When your bridge is ready, we will bond it to your teeth. These teeth will provide the support for your bridge. The drawback of this type of bridge is that it provides minimal stimulation to the jawbone below it.
In addition to bridges made with zirconia and porcelain, we also can create bridges made from e.max, porcelain fused to metal, and gold.
Find The Right Option For You
If you are missing teeth or need some teeth removed, we invite you to discuss your tooth replacement options at our dentist office in Holladay, UT. If you live in or near Salt Lake City, we are just a short drive away.
To schedule an appointment at Holladay Dental Studio, call 801-997-1137 or fill out our online form.