Dental Bridges
A dental bridge is a restorative appliance that can be used to replace teeth. These are referred to as bridges because they often bridge the gap made by a missing tooth and are connected to surrounding natural teeth. These bridges mimic a real tooth and are anchored on either side by crowns and cemented permanently into place. Our dental practice uses these appliances to help patients gain back better chewing ability and have a better-looking smile.
The Most Common Types Of Dental Bridges
Because all dental patients are unique, there are different options to choose from when it comes to dental bridges. Talking to your dentist about the current state of your teeth can help determine which bridge is best for you. No matter what type you choose, all dental bridges can be customized to match the look of your teeth. Some of the most common ones are listed below.
Traditional
Traditional bridges consist of one or more fake teeth that are held in place by crowns on your existing teeth. Your natural teeth will be prepared by removing some enamel to fit in the fake teeth. Crowns are placed over these teeth to help support the pontic in the middle.
Cantilever
When only one natural tooth is available for support, dentists will use a cantilever bridge. This bridge uses one crown on one tooth to support the adjacent fake tooth instead of placing a crown on two teeth.
Maryland Bridge
These dental bridges are held in place by a metal or porcelain framework. The fake tooth and surrounding natural teeth are bonded to this framework to better mimic the strength of a full set of teeth. This is considered a less invasive option because enamel does not have to be removed from the remaining teeth.
Implant Supported
Dental bridges of this type rely on the support of a dental implant. The implant is surgically put into the jaw bone and acts as an anchor for the bridge to be attached to. This is a good option when you don’t have surrounding natural teeth to offer support.
Benefits Of Dental Bridges
There are many benefits of a restorative dental procedure like bridges. Dental bridges help to prevent the shifting of your other teeth, which can cause jaw problems or trouble eating or speaking. The importance of bridges is to help many adults or children have longer-lasting oral health even when they have lost a tooth for any reason. Applying a dental bridge will help patients avoid jaw bone dysfunction, facial distortion, and pain caused by shifting teeth.
Giving Patients More Confidence In Their Smile
Bridges help to improve the look of your smile by filling in gaps in your teeth. Having a hole where a tooth should be is not necessarily appealing. Bridges help to create the look of a perfect smile if you have lost teeth to an accident or decay.
Improving Jaw And Teeth Functionality
Another benefit of dental bridges is that they help to evenly distribute your bite. This prevents excessive stress on your teeth caused by too much pressure in one area or another. Filling in the gaps in your smile will help your overall jaw performance too. Missing teeth can impact swallowing, talking, and chewing significantly. Protecting your remaining teeth and the mobility of your jaw is an important part of restorative dentistry.
Other benefits of dental bridges include:
- Preservation of facial structure
- Improved speech
- Less maintenance on your teeth
- Customized to match your tooth color and shape
- Can last for over 15 years when cared for properly
- More comfortable than other options like implants or dentures
Cosmetic Dentistry Procedures From Central Davis Dental
Our team at Central Davis Dental wants you to have a perfect smile again. We know that dental surgery can be a hassle, but having bridges or implants done at the right time can save you from losing your teeth altogether. Other restorative and cosmetic procedures not only give you better function of your mouth, but they can also help elevate your confidence levels too. Learn more about all of our services to see if we are the correct fit for you.