Losing a tooth can be a very traumatic experience both emotionally and physically. The most obvious concern is of course the pain. Whether the tooth is lost due to a physical accident such as a car crash or sporting injury or if it is just lost to decay or disease, either way there is going to be a significant amount of pain involved. The only difference being if the pain is chronic or acute. Once the initial pain has subsided however, you are then faced with the prospect of having a tooth missing from your dental arc. This is very noticeable and will often spoil the appearance of a smile. This can be emotionally very upsetting at any age but particularly for younger patients, having a missing tooth can have a very large stigma attached.
However, there are a number of ways of replacing missing teeth to restore the functionality of the teeth and also their cosmetic appearance. One such way is called a dental bridge. This involves creating an artificial tooth bridge to fill the gap created by the missing tooth. This is achieved usually by attaching two dental crowns to the teeth adjacent to the vacant tooth and using these to support an artificial tooth, which fills the gap. This artificial tooth, called a pontic from the Latin for bridge, will create the appearance of a full set of teeth and can also be used to eat and chew.
If the teeth adjacent to the missing tooth are in a sufficiently good condition it is possible to bond the pontic using resin strips only, as this saves the need for enamel removal needed to attach crowns. A dental bridge from a Bath dentist could be the perfect way to restore the appearance of your teeth as well as rebuilding your confidence in your smile. If you have suffered the embarrassment of a knocked out tooth, ask about dental bridges at your next appointment.
With nearly half the teeth lost to dental trauma each year happening as the result of sporting injury, it is important that we do all we can to protect our teeth when playing sport. One of the easiest ways to do this is to wear a mouth guard fitted by a Chepstow dentist.
Physical sports such as rugby and boxing or any sport involving a fast moving ball can pose a threat to your teeth. Just one ill-timed tackle or unlucky deflection and you could be looking at one or more lost teeth that will be the source of great pain, embarrassment and financial cost. Knocked out teeth, if they cannot be replaced immediately, can require enormous amounts of costly and unpleasant dental work to restore. This could involve replacing the missing teeth with dental implants of dental bridges, both of which while effective are also pretty expensive.
Having a mouth guard will add a dimension of protection to your teeth as it spreads the impact across the mouth meaning individual teeth are less likely to be lost. Mouth guards are usually made of rubber which also cushions and absorbs some of the impact. While it is possible to buy mouth guards in sporting good shops, these are often generic and will not fit your teeth well. This limits the amount of protection they are able to offer. A Chepstow will be able to design and manufacture a mouth guard that will fit your specific teeth. Using dental moulds and x-rays, your dentist can make the mouth guard very accurate and comfortable and make any adjustments that are required. This may cost slightly more than a ready-made mouth guard from a sport shop, but the extra protection you will be giving your teeth could just be priceless.
For children, it is important to remember that their mouth guard will need to be changed more often to accommodate for their developing teeth and jaw. Ask your dentist for more details.
Teeth can be lost in a number of circumstances. In some cases it may be a road accident or even a sporting accident. It may just be due to a lack of oral hygiene and tooth decay or gum disease has caused the destruction of the tooth. However you have lost the tooth, a smile with missing teeth is never really a healthy or attractive look and will add years to your appearance. There are also many health reasons why it is important to replace missing teeth with a dental substitution.
There are a number of options to replace missing teeth. Dental implants involve using small screws anchored into the jawbone, which are very solid but also quite costly. Partial dentures are another option but van often feel very bulky and may limit what it is possible to eat. One of the most common restorations is a dental bridge. Dental bridges are secured on either side of the missing tooth or teeth by a couple of dental crowns, or if the teeth are in very good condition, with resin bonded strips. A Bath dentist will be able to advise which is the most suitable type of dental bridge at an initial appointment.
Dental bridges replace all the part of the tooth visible above the gum to restore the appearance of a full dental arc and also to replace the lost support for the facial structure. They also prevent the other teeth leaning into the vacant space, which can cause misalignment and nasty jaw conditions. A dental bridge can last up to twenty years if it is properly maintained and cleaned like your other teeth. Your dentist will give you tips on how best to care for any dental restoration work you may have.
Even one missing tooth can seriously affect the way a person looks and not just because of the obvious gap in the teeth. Missing teeth leave gaps in the dental arc that allow other teeth to rotate and lean leading to a complete change in the appearance of the teeth. This can also affect bite alignment and have a negative impact on the facial tissue. Vacant spaces are also breeding grounds for plaque-forming and bad breath-causing bacteria. It is therefore very important to replace missing teeth as soon as possible.
One cosmetic option for replacing a missing tooth is a dental bridge. A dental bridge is an artificial tooth attached to crowns or resin-bonded strips that literally bridges the gap left by the missing tooth. This restores the appearance of the tooth from the gum up without having any attachment to the gum itself. This prevents bacteria build up and also braces the other teeth preventing any unwanted movement.
Dental bridges are usually fitted over several visits to the dentist depending on the condition of the existing teeth. The type of bridge fitted also depends on the condition of the adjacent teeth. Teeth in better condition are likely to be resin bonded rather than remove healthy enamel for a crown.
If properly cared for a dental bridge can last for up to fifteen years and serve all the functions of a natural tooth. Bristol dentists can fit dental bridges to fill the gap left by one or more teeth to help restore a patient’s confidence and their smile.
More and more patients are opting to have a dental implant as a permanent solution to replace a missing tooth in favour of the less rigid partial dentures and dental bridges. Implants come in the form of small screws anchored directly into the jawbone to hold an artificial tooth in exactly the same way a root supports a real tooth. This creates a feeling more similar to having a real tooth and also gives the patient an extra sense of security.
One dental implant fitted by a Bath dentist can support one or more artificial teeth, and five implants is usually enough to support a whole dental arc. Whole arc replacements are commonly being used as an alternative to dentures, which are notoriously prone to moving about and even falling out, which can be a source of great anxiety for many patients.
The surgery needed to fix a dental implant is more complex and more expensive than most other dental substitutes but the advantage of extra security and longevity often proves to be well worth it. A dental bridge will commonly last for between five and seven years whereas an implant, if properly maintained, can last as long as twenty-five years.
Once fixed into the jaw, the implant, usually made form titanium, will be left for several weeks or months to fuse with the bone and tissue structure around it. This process is called osseointegration and can vary significantly from patient-to-patient. Although it should be pointed out that implants may not be suitable for all patients depending on the condition of the jawbone and existing teeth.
Having missing teeth in your smile can be embarrassing and cause a loss of confidence but it can also have a series of adverse physical effects as well. Teeth missing from the dental arc can cause a change in bite, shifting of other teeth, speech impediments and an increased risk of tooth decay and gum disease. It is therefore important to replace the missing teeth with artificial dental substitutes as soon as possible.
One option is to have a dental bridge fitted by a Bristol dentist. Dental bridges are fixed artificial teeth attached to dental crowns on either side of the gap and can be used to replace one or more missing teeth. There are several different types of dental bridge that can be used depending on the circumstances of the individual patient but typically all bridges will include an artificial bridging tooth called a pontic.
If you are a suitable candidate for treatment the dentist will construct the bridge over the course of several visits. This may involve rebuilding damaged teeth so that they are strong enough to receive a dental crown. Once the crowns are in place, a pontic specifically chosen to fit the gap exactly and match the colour of the existing teeth can then be fixed using metal strips and dental bonding. The cost of the bridge will vary depending on the types of material used in manufacturing the bridge and the extent of the damage to the original teeth but will usually fall between £500 and £1.500. Once fixed, the dental bridge can last up to twenty years if properly cleaned and maintained through a strict oral hygiene regime. Although it would obviously be preferable to have your original teeth intact, dental bridge treatments provide an incredibly lifelike and sturdy alternative to real teeth and can prevent a series of unpleasant negative effects otherwise associated with missing teeth.
Dr Gerrard is a Bristol based Cosmetic dentist with many years of experience and is one of only a small number of dentists accredited by The British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry
Even one missing tooth can seriously affect the way a person looks and not just because of the obvious gap in the teeth. Missing teeth leave gaps in the dental arc that allow other teeth to rotate and lean leading to a complete change in the appearance of the teeth. This can also affect bite alignment and have a negative impact on the facial tissue. Vacant spaces are also breeding grounds for plaque-forming and bad breath-causing bacteria. It is therefore very important to replace missing teeth as soon as possible.
One cosmetic option for replacing a missing tooth is a dental bridge. A dental bridge is an artificial tooth attached to crowns or resin-bonded strips that literally bridges the gap left by the missing tooth. This restores the appearance of the tooth from the gum up without having any attachment to the gum itself. This prevents bacteria build up and also braces the other teeth preventing any unwanted movement.
Dental bridges are usually fitted over several visits to the dentist depending on the condition of the existing teeth. The type of bridge fitted also depends on the condition of the adjacent teeth. Teeth in better condition are likely to be resin bonded rather than remove healthy enamel for a crown.
If properly cared for a dental bridge can last for up to fifteen years and serve all the functions of a natural tooth. Bristol dentists can fit dental bridges to fill the gap left by one or more teeth to help restore a patient’s confidence and their smile.
More and more patients are opting to have a dental implant as a permanent solution to replace a missing tooth in favour of the less rigid partial dentures and dental bridges. Implants come in the form of small screws anchored directly into the jawbone to hold an artificial tooth in exactly the same way a root supports a real tooth. This creates a feeling more similar to having a real tooth and also gives the patient an extra sense of security.
One dental implant fitted by a Bath dentist can support one or more artificial teeth, and five implants is usually enough to support a whole dental arc. Whole arc replacements are commonly being used as an alternative to dentures, which are notoriously prone to moving about and even falling out, which can be a source of great anxiety for many patients.
The surgery needed to fix a dental implant is more complex and more expensive than most other dental substitutes but the advantage of extra security and longevity often proves to be well worth it. A dental bridge will commonly last for between five and seven years whereas an implant, if properly maintained, can last as long as twenty-five years.
Once fixed into the jaw, the implant, usually made form titanium, will be left for several weeks or months to fuse with the bone and tissue structure around it. This process is called osseointegration and can vary significantly from patient-to-patient. Although it should be pointed out that implants may not be suitable for all patients depending on the condition of the jawbone and existing teeth.
Having missing teeth in your smile can be embarrassing and cause a loss of confidence but it can also have a series of adverse physical effects as well. Teeth missing from the dental arc can cause a change in bite, shifting of other teeth, speech impediments and an increased risk of tooth decay and gum disease. It is therefore important to replace the missing teeth with artificial dental substitutes as soon as possible.
One option is to have a dental bridge fitted by a Bristol dentist. Dental bridges are fixed artificial teeth attached to dental crowns on either side of the gap and can be used to replace one or more missing teeth. There are several different types of dental bridge that can be used depending on the circumstances of the individual patient but typically all bridges will include an artificial bridging tooth called a pontic.
If you are a suitable candidate for treatment the dentist will construct the bridge over the course of several visits. This may involve rebuilding damaged teeth so that they are strong enough to receive a dental crown. Once the crowns are in place, a pontic specifically chosen to fit the gap exactly and match the colour of the existing teeth can then be fixed using metal strips and dental bonding. The cost of the bridge will vary depending on the types of material used in manufacturing the bridge and the extent of the damage to the original teeth but will usually fall between £500 and £1.500. Once fixed, the dental bridge can last up to twenty years if properly cleaned and maintained through a strict oral hygiene regime. Although it would obviously be preferable to have your original teeth intact, dental bridge treatments provide an incredibly lifelike and sturdy alternative to real teeth and can prevent a series of unpleasant negative effects otherwise associated with missing teeth.
