Dentistry: It's More Than Drilling and Filling

If you have a tooth that is missing inside your mouth, this can make your other teeth become crooked. This is because your teeth move to close up the gap where the tooth missing. Missing a tooth can also make you feel uncomfortable, especially while eating. You do have different options when it comes to replacing the tooth, one of which is dental bridges.

Dental Bridges

A dental bridge gives you an affordable way to close the gap. Dental implants can also be used but these are much more expensive when compared to dental bridges. A dental bridge is an artificial tooth that is placed in the gap. The artificial tooth is attached to the adjacent teeth using dental crowns. The dentist will make a mold of your teeth and send the mold to a lab to have the dental crowns made. Until the dental crowns are delivered, the dentist will place temporary crowns in the area. These crowns can come off, so you have to be careful when eating and brushing your teeth.

Once the new crowns arrive, the dentist will replace the temporary crowns. The dentist will ask you to bite down once the new crowns are placed. This is to ensure they fit in your mouth properly. If your teeth do not meet together properly, the dentist will use a special tool to shave the dental crown down until it is the right size. This does not hurt but you may have a metal taste in your mouth while the crown is being shaved.

Caring For Your Dental Bridge

Dental bridges do not last forever but you can make your bridge lasts longer if you take proper care of it. One way is to make sure you brush and floss your teeth each day. You can brush and floss as you normally do. 

If you grind your teeth at night, the dentist will ask you to wear a nightguard. Grinding is bad for all your teeth but especially a dental crown. This is because if you grind hard enough, this will wear the crown down much faster.

You should also see your dentist on a regular basis, such as twice per year, to have your teeth cleaned. The dental hygienist will see if there are problems with your dental bridge or crowns that you may not be aware of.

Your dentist can give you more detailed information on how dental bridges work.

Contact a local dentist today to learn more.