Dental Bridges and Smile Makeovers

Dental emergencies can happen at any time. It’s important to visit a Royal Oak dentist for timely care to prevent minor issues from escalating into severe problems.

Missing teeth are not only a cosmetic problem, but can affect your ability to chew and speak properly. Luckily, there are several options to replace missing teeth Royal Oak MI that include dental bridges, partial dentures and dental implants.

Dental Bridges

As the name implies, dental bridges “bridge” the gap left by a missing tooth, fastened to the teeth on either side. This helps restore the shape of the face and mouth, aids chewing and speech, and prevents the surrounding teeth from shifting into the empty socket. A bridge also distributes the forces of biting and chewing evenly. This can help avoid the collapse of the bite and the deterioration of the remaining natural teeth.

Missing even one tooth can cause instability and pain, as well as difficulty eating and speaking clearly. Several health issues are also associated with this condition, such as the increased risk of gum disease and a drooping of the face and lips. It can also lead to lisping and a loss of self-esteem.

Dental bridges are custom-made, based on impressions of the patient’s teeth and bite. They are fabricated in a laboratory, which makes them a permanent solution for missing teeth Royal Oak MI. Getting a bridge usually involves multiple visits to the dentist, starting with numbing the mouth to make it comfortable for the procedure. The dentist then reshapes the teeth on both sides of the empty socket, preparing them to receive the crown portion of the bridge. A temporary bridge may be fabricated while the lab creates the customized bridge for the patient.

Once a bridge is placed, the patient must care for it as they would their natural teeth, including brushing and flossing. Foods should be avoided that can damage the bridge or abutment teeth (the anchoring teeth). These include hard foods, such as nuts and ice, and sweets that can stain the bridge.

Partial Dentures

When you lose a tooth, it affects your smile’s appearance and causes issues with chewing and speaking. These problems can worsen over time, especially if other teeth begin to shift and compensate for the missing one. A partial denture can help fill in the gaps and restore your smile’s health, function, and beauty.

The best part is that it’s much cheaper than other traditional tooth replacement options, including dental bridges and dental implants. Partials also take less time to design, create, and place, making them a great option for patients who need temporary tooth replacement.

Our top dentist will work with you to decide if a removable partial denture or flipper is the best choice for your oral health and needs. We offer both acrylic and metal partials. Metal partials are typically made from cobalt-chromium, and they’re sturdier and more resistant to damage than acrylic dentures.

A partial denture can improve your bite and prevent the shifting of other teeth, which can cause problems with the alignment of your teeth, jawbone, and soft tissues. It can also help you better grind and chew food, which promotes oral health by preventing decay and boosting your digestion. However, if you’re looking for a more long-term solution, our dentist recommends dental implants. They’re a permanent solution that replaces the root of your missing tooth and supports artificial crowns, giving you a natural-looking and feeling smile.

Implant-Supported Dentures

If you’ve lost all of your natural teeth, a complete denture can restore your appearance and help you chew and speak more effectively. This treatment can also improve your oral health by preventing the surrounding teeth from shifting and the bone in your jaw from shrinking due to tooth loss. There are two types of complete dentures: conventional and implant-supported. Conventional complete dentures are inserted after the remaining teeth have been removed and tissues have healed, which can take several months. Immediate complete dentures are inserted as soon as the remaining teeth are removed, providing a more efficient restoration of function and aesthetics.

Partial dentures are used when only some of your natural teeth are missing. These are anchored to the surrounding natural teeth, and well-placed restorations on a partial denture fill in gaps and can help you eat more effectively. The type of partial denture you choose depends on your needs and budget.

The first step in getting an implant-supported denture is to consult with a dentist who specializes in this procedure. They will review your medical and dental history and perform a full exam of your mouth. They will take a CT scan to locate the sinuses and nerves, and determine how much bone is available for implants. In a second surgery, the surgeon will remove the healing caps from the implant sites and replace them with regular abutments, which are parts to which the denture frame is fastened. The final appointment involves trying on the new denture, making sure it fits properly, and scheduling follow-up appointments to ensure proper healing.

Smile Makeovers

A smile makeover is a customized cosmetic dentistry procedure that incorporates multiple treatments to improve the look of your teeth and smile. It can include treatments such as dental implants, veneers, whitening, and tooth-colored fillings. It is also a great way to repair crooked, chipped or missing teeth Royal Oak MI. It can dramatically alter the appearance of your teeth, boosting your self-confidence and giving you a brighter, healthier smile.

During your initial consultation, be sure to communicate what you like about your smile and share your goals for it with your dentist. You can even bring in photos of smiles that you like or images of how your own smile looked before damage or aging. A good dentist will be able to look at your smile as a whole and consider how it fits with the rest of your face and facial features.

The most common procedures used in a smile makeover are teeth whitening, dental veneers and dental crowns. These are all designed to remove stains and discoloration that can occur due to tobacco, coffee or tea consumption, ageing or genetics. They are an affordable and quick solution to a dull or yellow smile.

Missing or crooked teeth can be replaced using dental implants that replace the root of a natural tooth with a metal post. These are a permanent solution to a missing tooth, and they can also support other traditional forms of dentistry such as dental bridges or dentures.