Cosmetic Dentistry Articles from
Kansas City Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Alberto Castaneda

Dental Bridges
Alberto Castaneda, DDS

Losing a tooth can take quite a toll on your self-confidence. For this reason alone, most people who have lost one or several teeth will seek dental treatment right away. Dental bridges are one of the more popular treatments for these individuals. People lose teeth for any number of reasons. Auto accidents and sporting accidents are common causes, but many lose them due to illness, radiation treatments, or other unforeseen circumstances – and let us not forget poor oral hygiene.

While missing teeth are a cosmetic concern, they are also something that needs immediate treatment to preserve your general oral health. Missing teeth will eventually cause a host of other dental problems including:

* Shifting of remaining teeth
* Jawbone deterioration
* Speech problems
* Eating problems
* Further tooth loss

There are three common types of bridges. The most common dental bridge consists of a false tooth attached to two dental crowns. These crowns are placed on the natural teeth that remain on each side of the missing tooth. This is the sturdiest type of bridge, and so we usually recommend it where it is appropriate.

Another type of bridge is the resin-bonded bridge. This is usually reserved for the front teeth. It consists of a false tooth that is connected to the adjacent teeth with a metal band and resin.

A third type of bridge is the half-bridge. As the name suggests, only one crown is attached to the false tooth. These are used when there is only one adjacent natural tooth available.

The bridge procedure usually takes three office visits, and can be done in under a month in most cases. If you live in the Kansas City area and are missing one or more teeth, please contact Dr. Castaneda today to arrange an appointment.

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