A Comprehensive Understanding of Dental Bridges

Missing teeth can be a nightmare. When you have missing teeth, you might have difficulties chewing and pronouncing words correctly. If you have missing teeth, you might feel less confident when talking to strangers. Also, missing teeth can cause bone degradation.

To correct such dental problems, your dentist might teeth replacement options such as dental bridges. A tooth bridge closes the gap between your teeth, restoring your smile and chewing abilities.

Tooth bridges are false teeth held in place by abutment teeth. The false teeth can be of any material. However, most pontics are porcelain and are suitable since ceramic material can match the natural color of your teeth. Therefore, your tooth bridges can blend easily with your natural teeth.

Who Needs a Tooth Bridge?

A dental bridge can address the following problems in your mouth:

• Improve your smile
• Restore your chewing abilities
• Enhance pronunciation and speech
• Prevents the adjacent natural teeth from shifting towards the gap left when your teeth fall out
• Adjusts your bite to redistribute forces when you are chewing
• Maintain the shape of your face

Types of Tooth Bridges

When you seek to replace fallen out teeth, your dentist might recommend any of the four types of tooth bridges:

Traditional Tooth Bridges

Traditional tooth bridges are popular among patients. Such tooth bridges utilize a pontic attached to adjacent natural teeth. Therefore, such tooth restorations are suitable for people with healthy adjacent natural teeth.

Cantilever Bridges

Cantilever dental bridges are similar to traditional ones. However, the pontic is held in place by a dental crown cemented on one of the adjacent natural teeth. Therefore, your dentist in Phoenix might recommend such dental bridges if you have a tooth restoration on one side of the gap.

Maryland Bonded Dental Bridges

Just like traditional dental bridges, Maryland bonded requires two adjacent natural teeth. However, such dental bridges utilize metal or porcelain frameworks to hold them in place. Therefore, your dentist can only recommend Maryland bonded dental bridges if you have two adjacent natural teeth.

Implant-Supported Dental Bridge

As opposed to other dental bridges, such treatments don’t require abutment teeth or frameworks. Instead, one dental implant holds the dental bridge in place. If one implant can’t hold the dental bridge, your dentist might use a pontic suspended between two tooth crowns. Such dental bridges are durable and stable.

Dental Bridges Procedure

You can get a dental bridge as a single treatment or as part of a smile makeover.

Most dental bridges are held in place by natural teeth. Therefore, it is necessary to prepare the adjacent natural teeth for the dental bridge. Preparation involves shaping the adjacent natural teeth to accommodate the dental bridge. During the procedure, your dentist might administer local anesthesia to numb the area.

Therefore, the first step of getting dental bridges is filing the abutment teeth. Your dentist will then take impressions of the prepared tooth and send them to a dental lab. The dental impressions help to make your tooth bridge.
The dental bridges need to match the natural color of your teeth for smile aesthetics. Therefore, the dentist will take the color of your neighboring teeth and send them to the dental lab. In the meantime, the dentist will place a temporary dental bridge to protect the prepared tooth.

When the permanent dental bridge arrives from the dental lab, the dentist will schedule the next appointment. Your dentist will remove the temporary dental bridge and replace it with a permanent one. Finally, your dentist will cement the dental bridge using a composite adhesive material.

Dental bridges might feel familiar at first. Although, you will get used to the dental bridges over time. In case your experience discomfort after getting tooth bridges, you should consider contacting your dentist.

Taking Care of Your Dental Bridges

After getting dental bridges, you should consider taking care of them just like your natural teeth. Below are some of the care tips we recommend at ESP Dental:

• Brush and floss your teeth regularly to maintain your oral health
• Avoid chewing or biting on hard foods and objects to prevent damaging the dental bridge
• Visit your dentist regularly for dental exams and cleanings
• Wear a protective mouthguard when playing contact sports to avoid damaging your dental prosthesis