Lancaster Dental

Healthy Smiles for the Whole Family

DENTAL BRIDGE IS THE BEST OPTION

DENTAL BRIDGE: When you are missing one or more teeth, it’s important to deal with the gap in your smile. If you let it go, you run the risk of your healthy teeth shifting and our bite changing, which can lead to losing more teeth.

One of the ways to bridge this gap is an artificial restoration called a dental bridge. Just as it sounds, it “bridges” the gap between two teeth. The most common way for a bridge to be placed is to attach it to the supporting teeth on either side of the space, or to attach it to dental crowns the same way.

Although a dental implant is generally considered the best way to replace one or more missing teeth, a dental bridge might be a better option. Perhaps you have budget considerations (a bridge is more affordable), or your jawbone won’t support an implant.

Don’t put off tooth replacement with a dental bridge. Your Monroe dentist at Lancaster dental Texas can answer your questions about dental bridges.

Why are dental bridges important?

they are utilized to help restore the smile and maintain the appropriate shape of the face. They also allow to properly chew the food, speak properly, and place the jaws together when biting, which prevents the other teeth from shifting or drifting apart.

What are the types of dental bridges?

they have different types, commonly known as:

  • Traditional bridge. This type is the most popular among other types. This is usually made from ceramics or porcelain fused to metal. A dental crown is made for the teeth on either side of the missing tooth with a pontic in between them. This is suitable when both sides of the gap created by missing teeth are natural teeth.
  • Cantilever bridge. This type is commonly used when the patient does not have teeth on either side of the missing tooth. The abutment teeth adjacent to one another are prepped, and the pontic is attached to the end of it. 
  • Maryland bridge. This type is somehow similar to a traditional bridge. However, the Maryland bridge uses either porcelain or metal framework that is bonded onto the backs of the teeth.
  • Implant-supported dental bridge. This type uses dental implants. Usually, one implant is surgically placed for every missing tooth, and these would hold the bridge in position. If one implant for each missing tooth is not possible, a pontic tooth is suspended in between two implant-supported crowns.

How long do dental bridges last?

they usually last for five or more years. However, with regular dental checkups and proper oral hygiene, it can last for more than ten years or even longer.

is eating with a dental bridge difficult?

At first, eating with a dental bridge is quite challenging because the patient is still not accustomed to it. However, as the patient gets used to it, eating with a dental bridge is made easier compared to having a missing tooth.

Will dental bridge change the way I speak?

Speaking with a missing tooth is challenging because they may find enunciating and pronouncing the words a bit difficult. However, a dental bridge can help them speak clearly and correctly.

What Advantages Can I Expect with a Dental Bridge?

There are a number of reasons why a dental bridge is a great way to replace one or more missing teeth:

  • No complex surgery is required, as is the case with dental implants
  • Treatment is relatively quick
  • they are generally better accepted by patients

What About Disadvantages?

The biggest disadvantage of a dental bridge is if it is supported by a healthy tooth that is free of cavities or dental restorations, healthy tooth material will have to be removed to make room for the bridge. Once the bridge is placed, it is permanent.

There is also a possibility of complications from the procedure, although that chance is quite small.

Resources:

dentalassociatesofbuckhead.com

monroesmilemakers.com

We love our patients and love to help them form a healthy dental life that will last them a lifetime. Lancaster Dental is a dental clinic in Lancaster, Bellaire Acres, Westridge, Lancaster North, and Ten Mile Creek Neighborhood we have the best dental services in Texas: General & Cosmetic Dentistry, Crowns & Bridges, Dental Implants, Emergency Services, Teeth Whitening, Pediatric Dentistry, Braces & Invisalign For more information call us to answer all of your questions so you can get an appointment today.