Do you hide your smile because you are missing teeth? Is it hard for you to chew food? If you have problems because of missing teeth, see your dentist. Together, you can talk about choices that may help fix your smile.
Bridges
Bridges are used when one or a few teeth are missing. They replace the missing tooth or teeth with false ones. A permanent or fixed bridge is cemented onto specially prepared teeth on either side of the space. Bridges can now be done at the dental office in a same day visit. Sometimes, though, a removable bridge can be used. A removable bridge clips to the teeth on both sides of the space. You can put a removable bridge in and take it out yourself.
Most of the time, a removable bridge has an acrylic base with metal clasps or a frame that is made of cast metal. Permanent or fixed bridges can be made from metal, ceramics or a combination of the two. False teeth are mounted onto the base of a bridge to fill the space where the teeth are missing.
Implants
Implants are metal tooth roots that are placed into the jawbone through minor surgery. The bone and gums grow around the implant to hold it into place. A single false tooth, called a crown, can be screwed onto a single implant. More than one implant also can be placed. These implants can attach to a bridge or denture when more than one tooth is missing. Implants are not meant to come out.
Dentures
Full dentures (sometimes called false teeth) may be used to restore the smile when all natural teeth have been lost. The denture looks like a full set of teeth mounted on an acrylic base made to look like gums. Dentures can be held in place with implants or by a seal that forms between the denture base and the gums with saliva, along with the muscle of your cheeks and tongue. Sometimes adhesive (denture cream) may be used to help hold the denture in place.
Getting the Right Fit
New bridges or dentures may feel strange at first. They should become comfortable over time. Never try to fix the way a bridge or denture feels in your mouth or force a removable bridge into place. Your dentist will work with you to help you get a good fit.
Some people’s mouths feel sore after getting a bridge or dentures. Let your dentist know if your mouth feels sore. He or she may need to adjust the fit of your bridge or denture.
Taking Care of Your Smile
Whether you have a bridge, wear dentures or have your own teeth, you have to take care of your smile. Plaque, a thin film of bacteria, forms on your teeth, gums and other tissues in your mouth all the time. If not removed, plaque can cause tooth decay, gum disease and bad breath. To take care of your mouth:
- Brush your teeth, gums, tongue and the roof of your mouth every morning with a soft bristled brush before you put in your removable bridge or dentures. This will help the blood flow into the tissues of your mouth and remove plaque.
- Rinse your removable bridge or dentures before brushing to remove any loose food or debris.
- Use a soft bristled toothbrush and a nonabrasive cleanser to gently brush your removable bridge or dentures.
- Gently brush your natural teeth with a fluoride containing toothpaste and a soft bristled toothbrush twice a day for two minutes. Clean between your teeth daily with floss or another product used to clean in-between the teeth.
- Always look for the American Dental Association Seal of Acceptance on products, a symbol of safety and effectiveness.
- Visit your dentist regularly. FBN
By Bryan J. Shanahan, D.D.S.
