If you’re missing 1 to 3 teeth, dental crown and bridge therapy can restore your bite. Let the experienced restorative dentists, Dr.s Carolyn and Walter McGinn in Putnam, CT, return your smile to perfection. Crown and bridge therapy can be performed in as few as two visits, and our skilled staff will perform the procedure in a comfortable environment where you’ll feel at ease from start to finish. If you are living with missing teeth or need to have one or more teeth extracted, let us help you understand your restorative options, and give you a reason to smile. Call to schedule an appointment today.

Tooth Replacement is Essential

While many people will live with a missing tooth for years, there are numerous health risks associated with missing teeth. Your oral health can be noticeably effected quickly. Gaps between teeth allow dental drift. This means that the surrounding teeth shift to fill the space left by missing teeth. This movement can be painful, but it can also create gaps between teeth and lead to crowding or overlapping. If you spent countless hours and dollars on orthodontic treatment to straighten your teeth, this can all be undone if missing teeth are left un-replaced.

Bone and tissue loss may not affect your dental esthetic, but it can be detrimental to your oral health long term. Your jawbone density and gum tissue are shaped by the roots of your teeth. Stimulation from the roots keeps the jawbone healthy and gum tissue full. When there is an empty space, the gum tissue recedes, and you are more likely to experience jawbone deterioration. Left untreated, this corrosion can change the shape of your face as the skin sinks inwards without the gum tissue to shape it. Loss of jawbone density has been linked to TMJ, further tooth loss, and difficulty chewing. Additionally, the change in your bite can lead to impeded speech.

How a Crown Works

A crown is a prosthetic tooth that can be bonded to tooth fragments from broken or decayed teeth to help retain the root and any natural tooth that remains. Crowns are made to fit your bite, and will help retain the shape of your mouth. Crowns make it possible to restore your smile without extracting the remaining tooth. Our practice always strives to preserve natural teeth whenever possible, and crowns allow us to keep teeth that would otherwise be lost.

When a Bridge is Needed

If you do need a full extraction or have lost a tooth due to trauma, a crown can still help you restore your smile. Without a root to anchor it, a bridge is necessary. A dental bridge or fixed bridge works much the way it sounds. The way that a bridge connects one road to another, a dental bridge connects a replacement tooth to the two teeth on either side. The root system of these teeth will support the bridge and the tooth between.

There are many different types of bridges, and the type that will work best for you will be determined by the dentists during your examination. Most bridges work by placing crowns on the teeth on either side of the gap, and connecting these crowns to replacement teeth. In some cases, it is possible to retain the surrounding teeth by connecting the replacement tooth using metallic or ceramic connections. These are most frequently used to create a more natural looking bridge for front teeth.

Pros of Crown and Bridge

Unlike partial dentures, crown and bridge therapy is permanent. Your replacement tooth or teeth become a natural part of your smile. You do not have to remove them for cleaning. They can be cleaned as part of your regular hygiene routine. The types of foods you are able to chew will not be limited as they are even with partial dentures. Chomp an apple, chew a steak, or bite into taffy without fear. Unlike other semi-permanent tooth replacement, crown and bridge therapy is minimally invasive, and those who have illnesses like diabetes that can slow the healing process, are able to receive a crown and bridge with much less risk.

Schedule an Appointment

If you are missing 1 to 3 teeth, don’t wait to have them replaced. The Dr.s McGinn are here to help you find the right restorative dental treatment, and get your smile back in line. Call our Putnam, CT office to schedule an appointment today. We welcome patients from northeaster Connecticut’s quiet corner including Putnam, Woodstock, Thompson, Pomfret, Brooklyn, Killingly, Eastford, Plainfield, Webster, Dudley, Douglas, Burrillville, Gloucester, and Foster.