A missing tooth lost by disease or injury can affect a person’s confidence and over-all health and well-being. Dr. Richard Nichols of Apexx Family Dental Care in Littleton, CO can restore beauty to your smile with a cosmetic dental bridge made of natural, tooth-colored materials. A typical dental bridge consists of a filler tooth that is attached to either two surrounding natural teeth or dental crowns. This device or appliance is used to fill the void where a tooth has fallen out or has been removed. If left untreated, these spaces in the mouth from missing teeth can cause other teeth to shift, leading to further oral health concerns including jaw problems and/or periodontal disease. Dental bridges can preserve the integrity of existing teeth and help maintain a healthy and attractive smile.
The Dental Bridge Process
During the initial visit, Dr. Richard Nichols will prepare the surrounding teeth by cleaning any plaque or decay that remains and sculpting the tooth so that the dental crown can be fitted. A mold or impression of the teeth is taken and send off to a dental lab, where the custom dental bridge is created. In the meantime, patients are fitted with a temporary dental bridge made of acrylic resin they can use until it is ready.
Approximately one to two weeks later when the patient returns to the dental clinic, Dr. Richard Nichols will be able to remove the temporary dental bridge and replace it with the permanent one. He will make any final adjustments to the dental bridge, for a proper bite and fit, and then permanently bond the dental bridge into the mouth.
If the missing teeth are in a series, the dentist may suggest a partial denture as the most effective way to maintain the structure of the jawbone. If the missing tooth space has no surrounding teeth, a dental implant may be the most appropriate choice.
Please contact Apexx Family Dental Care – serving Littleton, Colorado if you are interested in learning more about dental bridges and whether they are right for you.