If you’ve lost a permanent tooth due to severe root canal infection, injury to your teeth and mouth, gum disease, or similar, a dental bridge may be recommended to you by your Kent dentist instead of dentures.

Both dentures and dental bridge treatments fall under the unbrella of General Dentistry jobs. When all teeth are missing, dentures made of flexible Valplast or acrylic resin are a replacement option. Dentures are also used to keep other teeth in place if teeth key to the structure of your mouth are missing.

In contrast, dental bridges are “artificial teeth” that replace a lost tooth or teeth and are created to fit onto your natural adjoining teeth. The natural adjoining teeth are usually capped with a crown that the false tooth or pontic is attached to. The pontic can be made from a combination of substances that include porcelain, gold and/or alloys.

Leaving a gap where the missing tooth is meant to be instead of having a dental bridge is not a good idea. Food can build up in the gap and increase the possibility of gum disease, further root canal infection in other natural teeth, and decay. Strain is placed on the natural teeth located on either side of the gap causing damage and altering the bite  formation of your teeth. Your speech and facial look can also change in a way that affects your attractiveness. If you’ve lost a tooth, see your dentist in Kent to discuss dental bridges.