Frisco Dental Bridges

Having “windows” in your smile can affect your confidence and cause you to be overly self-conscious. Knowing that you have a tooth or teeth missing within your smile line can cause you to stop smiling because of embarrassment. A dental bridge is a cosmetic dentistry treatment that can close the window, restore your smile and give you back a sense of self-assurance. Call a family dentist in Frisco today by dialing (469) 452-2998.

A more pressing reason to close that gap is your oral health. Missing teeth leave room for a variety of problems to develop. The space caused by the missing tooth or teeth allows the neighboring teeth to drift. This process can throw the teeth out of alignment. The opposing tooth may drift downward or upward, depending on whether the space is on the lower or upper jaw. Shifting teeth can create spaces that are difficult to clean and therefore more vulnerable to plaque buildup and gingivitis.

Precious chewing or biting area is also lost with every missing tooth. This means your food may not be broken down as well as it should be for easy digestion. This in turn, can have an accumulating effect on your overall health.

What Are Dental Bridges?

Fixed dental bridges usually consist of two crowns and anywhere from 1-3 false teeth. The crowns are attached to two healthy “abutment teeth,” which are located on both sides of the gap in your smile. Bridges can restore more than one missing tooth, and are often used to replace up to 3 adjacent teeth. 

These crowns are attached to one or more false teeth (pontics). The crowns are attached tightly to your healthy teeth, and the false teeth rest in the gap caused by your missing teeth, “bridging” it and restoring your smile. This is how dental bridges get their name.

What To Expect During The Dental Bridge Placement Process

The dental bridge placement process is similar to having a crown placed. After your dentist at Parklane Family Dentistry determines that a bridge is right for you, your initial preparation appointment will be scheduled. 

At this appointment, your dentist will clean and numb your mouth, then remove some enamel from the abutment teeth with a dental drill to make room for the bridge. After this, dental impressions of the teeth will be taken and sent to a dental lab where the bridge will be built.

You will be sent home with a set of temporary crowns to protect your teeth. Then, in 2-3 weeks, you’ll come back for your final appointment when your porcelain bridge arrives at our office. Your dentist will remove your temporaries, check the fit of the bridge, and then attach it permanently to your teeth using powerful dental cement. This completes the procedure.

Caring For Dental Bridges

Caring for a dental bridge is quite similar to caring for your natural teeth. You will need to continue to brush twice a day for two minutes with fluoride toothpaste, and you will need to floss once per day to clean your gums and keep them healthy. You will also need to come and visit Dr. Parul Vashisht every six months at Parklane Family Dentistry for a checkup and teeth cleaning. 

However, you will need to take a few extra steps to clean under your dental bridge. Our team usually recommends using an interdental brush and a water flosser or floss threader.

Interdental brushes are thin, flexible toothbrushes that can easily reach below the bridge and clean away food, plaque, and debris from between the bridge and your gums. You should brush below the bridge whenever you brush your teeth. 

Water flossers, like the Waterpik, are also very effective and easy to use to clean dental bridges. They use a powerful stream of water to clean debris away from between your bridge and gums. A floss threader is another option, and lets you use a loop of floss to floss below your bridge. You should use a water flosser or floss threader whenever you floss your teeth.

If you have gaps due to missing teeth, contact Parklane Family Dentistry, and make an appointment for a consultation. Dr. Vashisht will be happy to speak with you about your options for closing the gap and restoring your smile. Why not contact us today?