When a person loses one or more teeth, dental bridge work is one of the very best ways to replace them.  Dental bridge work gives the individual a renewed, stable bite that will allow them to eat their favorite foods.  It will also restore an attractive smile they can show with confidence to the world around them. 

Dental bridge work has always brought with it very important medical advantages as well.  It will prevent a series of chain reactions from going off in the mouth.  The problems it prevents include, but are not limited to, the following:

1.       Existing, healthy teeth shifting out of alignment

2.       Difficulty keeping the teeth free from plaque and bacteria

3.       Loss of bone mass in the upper and/or lower jaws

4.       Difficulty, discomfort, and pain while chewing

5.       Bruxism, also known as teeth grinding

6.       Clenching of teeth

7.       Pain in the jaw joint, also referred to as TMJ.

It is paramount that a person act in time to replace any missing teeth with dental bridge work.

Dental bridge work is not a luxury option that people can sit around thinking about getting some day.  Failure to act in a timely manner can result in any or all of the above problems occurring.   Regardless of a persons interest in their own cosmetically appearance, there is a MEDICAL need to do something about missing teeth that goes beyond looking good.

It is simply outright UNHEALTHY to let a missing tooth or group of missing teeth go unreplaced. 

There is a sound medical basis for this strong assertion: teeth need each other for support.  When one or more teeth are lost, the bite forces exerted on remaining teeth on either side of the gap will begin to shift these teeth out of proper alignment. 

The opposing teeth will have nothing to chew against, so this bite force will cause them to begin extruding from their sockets.  In time, this will result in noticeable alignment problems.  Not only will people notice it but the patient will feel it, and it will not feel good.

It gets worse from there.  Pockets will then begin to form between teeth and gums.  These pockets serve as breeding grounds for bacteria and tooth decay.  This is due to the fact that these areas are so hard to keep clean that bacteria will naturally multiply and thrive in these spaces.  Not only will their accumulation result in tooth decay, but it will also lead to periodontal disease.

Without dental bridge work, these changes in tooth alignment create unevenly distributed bite force throughout the entire mouth.  This will loosen teeth in their sockets and result in a loss of bone mass in the jawbone itself.  If the person already suffers from periodontal disease, Periodontitis will worsen as shifting teeth begin to agitate gums and jaws more and more.

The individual will also have trouble chewing food and often will develop Bruxisma condition where a person clenches and grinds their teeth.  Problems with the TMJ (the joint that connects your upper and lower jaws) also develop in patients with missing teeth.

A Houston Cosmetic Dentist can help Determine Patient Need for Dental Bridgework.

The dentist will conduct a thorough dental exam that will diagnose the current condition of existing teeth.  This exam includes x-rays and systematic probing of gum tissue to check for periodontal pockets in which bacteria can breed and cause disease.

There are many kinds of dental bridge work, so patients never need to worry.   Whatever problems are found, if found in time, can be corrected with a medically sound and aesthetically attractive dental bridge.

Cosmetic Dentistry is a specialized field that requires extensive knowledge and experience to be done correctly. The Medical Center Dental Group in Houston, Texas brings all of that and more to the direct benefit of each and every patient we treat. Although we are located in the world famous Houston Medical Center at Scurlock Towers, we routinely see dental patients who travel from Austin, San Antonio, Dallas, Beaumont, Midland and Houston, Texas to see Dr. Dale Brant, Dr. Charles Campbell or Dr. Elizabeth OSullivan-Winslow for their cosmetic dentistry services