Enjoying A Secure Dental Bridge
Posted January 11, 2017 by Wager-Evans Dental
A dental prosthetic can correct the cosmetic issue a missing tooth causes. When you have a secure, permanently attached prosthetic, you can enjoy functional benefits as well. A dental bridge offers a means of securing a prosthetic without making oral surgery necessary. To secure the bridge, your dentist will apply two dental crowns to the teeth on each side of where your pontic (replacement tooth) will go. Those crowns hold the prosthetic stable enough to allow you to use it when biting and chewing. The bridge is made with lifelike materials, and is custom-fitted to comfortably fit you.
A Permanent Prosthetic Can Help You Avoid Jaw Discomfort
You can regain the ability to bite and chew food naturally when you have a dental bridge set in place. That restored function can protect you from jaw problems like TMJ dysfunction. If that compromised biting and chewing is not addressed, your jaw joints can develop issues. You can ultimately experience regular pain in your face, neck, and head, in addition to jaw pain.
Other Prosthetic Options
Not every patient will need to rely on a dental bridge for a stable prosthetic. A dental implant stabilizes your restoration by acting like a prosthetic tooth root. Placing a dental implant will make oral surgery necessary, as it needs to be set directly in your jaw. You will need to give your jaw time to heal after placement – during that healing period, your bone will fuse with the implant. While an implant does require oral surgery, it can protect you from jawbone resorption, and help better stabilize surrounding teeth.