Fractures from a blow to the face, advanced tooth decay and gum disease can damage or cause the loss of multiple teeth in one area of your mouth. Losing one tooth, let along multiple teeth in one spot will seriously compromise your ability to eat. It can also affect your speech and might even influence some of your facial expressions.
Additionally, if the structure of the area is not restored it can cause the surrounding teeth to migrate towards the void, resulting in alignment issues.
One of the most effective ways to remedy this problem is to have your dentist fit you for a bridge. This dental piece mimics the appearance and replaces the function of multiple missing teeth. The casual observer can rarely even notice that the bridge is not your natural teeth.
The dentist anchors the bridge in place with a pair of abutments made from the two closest, healthy teeth. The procedure is very similar to getting a crown.
A bridge requires two separate procedures. The first procedure involves removing most of the enamel from the two nearest teeth. This creates a pair of abutments that will later anchor the bridge firmly in place
The dentist will then create an impression of the area, including your bite pattern. They will then cover your two abutments with temporary crowns to protect them. The impression is then sent to a dental lab, where highly trained technicians will create your permanent bridge.
The second procedure is much shorter than the first. The dentist simply removes the temporary crowns and cements your new permanent bridge in place.
If you are missing two or more teeth in one part of your mouth, or you have questions about a bridge, please feel free to call us at 334.377.3778 to schedule an appointment.