Don’t let missing teeth or large gaps spoil your smile

Everyone wants their teeth to look good and, as dentists, we want that for you, too. However, we also know that keeping your teeth looking good goes hand-in-hand with your oral health, which is directly related to your overall health.

In other words, whenever we’re looking at or working on your teeth and gums, we’re thinking about your wellbeing as well as your appearance.

And we’re not just thinking about what’s going on with your teeth right now, either. We’re always considering your long-term health and wellbeing because we want your teeth to last a lifetime.

Gaps between teeth can be a problem

While you look in the mirror or see yourself in photos and think “That gap between my teeth spoils my smile” we look at the gap between your teeth and consider how it’s impacting your bite. That’s because an uneven bite can put undue pressure on adjacent teeth and your jaw and impact opposing teeth, too.

Add to that the fact that your teeth will begin to realign themselves over time, where there are gaps or misalignments, and there is a real possibility that a gap left alone will lead to other issues down the track.

This is an example of where the aesthetics – the way your teeth look – overlap with the effective functioning of your teeth and the potential for you to need remedial treatment after an issue arises.

What can you do about missing teeth or large gaps?

There are several dental treatments or procedures that can significantly improve either the look of your teeth, their effective functioning, or both. 

These include veneers, crowns, bridges, and implants, four options we’ll explain separately.

Dental implants are like getting a new tooth

If you have a missing tooth, replacing it with an implant might be the most suitable solution.

A dental implant is a titanium fixture, most commonly in the form of a screw, which is placed in the jawbone to act as an anchor for a crown. There is also a third part, known as an abutment, which connects the crown to the implant.

Most dental implants are made from titanium, which is lightweight, non-magnetic, and resistant to corrosion. The crown that is attached to the implant is custom-made to fit perfectly between the natural teeth on either side and to look as much like them as possible. Most implants can last 20 to 30 years.

Dental crowns are custom-made to match adjacent teeth

If you have a tooth that’s broken or has needed substantial filling it will need to be rebuilt to closely resemble how the tooth was before. This is important for the stability of the teeth on either side and opposite it, as well.

This is generally the job of a crown, which is crafted from porcelain or a porcelain/metal combination. It’s made to measure by getting an impression of the tooth and then cemented firmly in place.

A custom crown not only makes the tooth look better, but it also adds much-needed strength, durability, and stability to that tooth and the surrounding section of your bite.

Dental bridges support false teeth

One or more false teeth placed in a gap to restore the appearance of your smile and help you eat more easily, either anchored to adjacent teeth or supported by dental implants, is called a bridge.

A bridge can use the teeth on either side of the gap to support the fake tooth or teeth in between or, if you only have a healthy tooth on one side of the gap, a cantilever bridge can be anchored by that single tooth.

An implant-supported bridge works on the same principle as a tooth-supported bridge, except the bridge is supported by dental implants instead of natural teeth.

Once again, the bridge and the false tooth or teeth attached to it are custom-made to match the appearance of the adjacent teeth.

Dental veneers are made to look good

If you have one or two teeth that are chipped, discoloured, or standing out from the rest in not the best way, veneers might be the best solution.

Veneers are thin, tooth-coloured porcelain or glass/plastic layers fixed onto the front of your teeth. Attaching veneers is usually the simplest, least intrusive method of improving the overall look of your teeth.

Any form of cosmetic dentistry will improve your smile

Whenever we’re talking about making a change to your teeth, we’ll consider the overall impact of the change to ensure that you get the best long-term result, from both an aesthetic and a health perspective.

Middleborough Dental Care is fully equipped to provide any cosmetic dentistry and our team is very experienced at explaining each of your options and the potential pros and cons.

You might be pleasantly surprised to find out what we can do for you, so make an appointment to have the initial discussion soon.