What Dental Bridges Are
Why Bridges?
A mouth with a missing tooth can quickly change shape as the remaining teeth shift in response to suddenly having more room than before. Every tooth in your mouth serves a purpose, and together they hold each other in place. When one of them goes missing, then, the rest of the teeth tend to drift from their current locations. This can change your smile as well as your bite, and can even lead to tissue and bone loss that will only further degenerate the function of your existing teeth and jaw.
A bridge can be placed to help keep your teeth exactly where they need to be. Additionally, failing to replace a tooth means that your bite is no longer properly supported thanks to a missing link. In response, the rest of your teeth will have to pick up the slack. This additional pressure and stress can lead to increased wear and tear, which might even result in more dental work that needs to be done.
Do Dental Bridges Hurt?
As with so many dental procedures, many patients want to know just how painful a bridge will be. The answer is that the bridge is not painful at all! You might experience some slight discomfort when the two crowns are placed, but there is very little invasive work being done. That means that your teeth stay healthy and avoid too much jostling. The replacement tooth itself just slides in between the two crowns and is held in place—it is not implanted in your jaw like some other procedures.
For more information regarding dental bridges, or to learn more about alternative options like dental implants, please give Kelly Smile Dentistry a call today at 760-242-2338