Dental bridges may be the best way to restore Raleigh smiles

Cavities, gum disease, and accidents, among other causes, can result in the loss of teeth. The aesthetics of your smile can be restored and your oral health protected using a fixed dental bridge at the Holistic Dental Centers in Cary and Cornelius. It is a popular restoration method for a missing tooth.

Why restore a missing tooth

When a front tooth is missing, people naturally want it replaced because of the negative effect it has on the aesthetics of their smiles. When a back tooth is missing and not visible when laughing or smiling, patients may not understand the importance of replacing it. However, your teeth rely on each other for stability and support. When you lose a tooth, the rest will soon will begin to shift.

This can cause a variety of oral health issues, including:

• Once the remaining teeth begin to shift, patients begin to suffer from a misaligned bite.
• As the teeth shift they begin to form pockets where plaque can be trapped , which can result in the formation of cavities and gum disease.
• The shifting teeth can become loose and result in the loss of more teeth.

The fixed dental bridge procedure

This typically requires two appointments with Dr. McMillan. During the first appointment, the teeth that border the gap will be reshaped to accommodate dental crowns. The bridge is made of two dental crowns with the artificial tooth between them. Once your teeth have been prepared for the bridge, impressions of your upper and lower jaws will be taken. Your doctor will also determine the best shade for your new restoration so it will be a perfect match for your existing teeth. After the impressions are taken, Dr. McMillan will place a temporary bridge to protect, your prepared teeth while the permanent restoration is being fabricated. Most patients only require a local anesthetic for this procedure. In about two weeks, you will return to our office, the temporary bridge will be removed, and the permanent restoration will be placed.

If you are missing a tooth, or have one that needs to be extracted, give us a call, Dr. McMillan can provide you with a beautiful restoration that will protect your oral health. We have two locations and you can schedule an appointment at the one most convenient for you. You can reach our Cornelius office at (704) 765-3150 or the Cary office at (919) 865-0700. Our Cary office is a short drive for Raleigh residents.

Holistic Dental Centers in Cary and Cornelius, NC offer many general and cosmetic options, designed to protect patients’ oral health, as well as overall health and well-being.

Dr. Carl McMillan is a holistic dentist with a medical degree from the College of Dental Medicine of the Medical University of South Carolina. Due to his expertise, he was honored with the International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology (IAOMT) presidency. He is compassionate towards patients and committed to providing them with safe, toxic-free dental treatments to help them maintain a happy and healthy smile.

Dr. Luis Crespo obtained his Doctorate of Dental Surgery from the West Virginia University School of Dentistry. An IAOMT member, he believes prevention is the best medicine and strives to educate both patients and parents on the benefits of maintaining a healthy mind, body, and spirit. He has served underprivileged communities across the world.

Dr. Erin Wilbanks graduated from Louisiana State University School of Dentistry in New Orleans with a Doctor of Dental Surgery degree. She is an accredited IAOMT member, is SMART (Safe Mercury Amalgam Removal Technique) certified and is a member of the Academy of General Dentistry.