BRIDGES: Why do we need to replace missing teeth?

Placing a bridge after teeth have been lost can prevent a chain reaction of problems that could affect your entire mouth. Teeth need each other for support, and when one or more teeth are lost, the biting forces on the teeth next to the space will change, causing the teeth to shift. Because the teeth on the opposite arch no longer have anything to chew against, they may begin to extrude out of the socket. You can eventually end up losing them too.

As your bite changes, it gets harder and harder to chew your food, and your jaw joint, called the TMJ, may be damaged. It's also much harder to clean teeth that have shifted. Harmful plaque and tartar collect in new hard-to-reach places created by shifting teeth, causing cavities and the permanent bone loss that comes with gum disease.

Restoring stability with a dental bridge

A dental bridge is an excellent way to replace one or more missing teeth and restore stability to your mouth. Like all bridges, a dental bridge needs abutments to hold it in place, and to provide support. A dental bridge is attached to the teeth next to the space, and those teeth act as supportive abutments. We prepare your teeth and from impressions make models of your mouth. Your bridge is then carefully crafted in a dental laboratory to fit your teeth precisely.

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