Are Bridges Right For Your Teeth?
When you knock out or lose your teeth, you might feel like you can't face the world anymore. Put one hole in your smile, and you lose an important way to greet the world. People will judge you based on how white and complete your smile is. While a broken smile once was an inescapable social burden, modern dentistry can allow you to fix your smile for a price. One way to replace broken teeth is to have a dentist give you a bridge. While the procedure can be costly, it will give you a new lease on life.
What Does a Bridge Look Like?
The main component of a bridge is the crown. A porcelain crown will stand up to rough abuse and will mimic the look of your natural teeth. In order to anchor the crown in place, a dentist will attach supports to the teeth on either side of the tooth or teeth that need replaced. There really is nothing more to a bridge than these few components.
How Does a Dentist Place a Crown in Your Mouth?
The first step in building a bridge is to take a cast of your teeth, so that the dental lab can create a crown that fits your mouth. In order to place the crown, it is necessary to file down the anchor teeth to create a flat, smooth surface to attach the anchors to. This process can weaken the tooth enamel, so a dentist will take as little enamel as possible in order to create a solid purchase for the anchors. The dentist then attaches the anchors, and when they are firmly in place, he can cement the crown.
Cautions with a Bridge
The anchors that support a bridge are durable but not indestructible. You will have to avoid corn nuts, hard candies, and other foods that can bend or break the anchors that hold your crown in place. You will also need to be careful about whitening your teeth, since the porcelain enamel will not react to the whitening agents as will your natural teeth, so they will maintain their color while your other teeth bleach. This can leave your smile looking like it is made from teeth of many different colors.
A bridge can be a good choice for replacing missing teeth. Bridges will not be as solid as your natural teeth, but they will look like one of your own teeth. Thus, if you have a missing tooth, you should consider having a dentist give you a bridge. For more information, contact a business such as Drs. Phipps, Levin, Hebeka, & Associates Ltd.