What Are Dental Bridges And How Are They Made?
So, what are dental bridges and how are they made? A dental bridge is a device used to replace one or more missing teeth. The bridge consists of an artificial tooth or teeth set between two crowns. The crowns cover the teeth on either side of the gap.
Bridges can either be fixed or removable. Fixed bridges cannot be removed, while removable bridges can be taken out and cleaned as needed. Both fixed and removable bridges can be used to replace one or two missing teeth. If three or more teeth need to be replaced, a fixed partial denture or implant-supported restoration can be used
A dental bridge is three crowns fused together. First, the dentist prepares the teeth on both sides of the gap, removing some of the enamel to accommodate the crowns. Then, an impression is taken of your teeth and sent to a dental lab. The lab will use this impression to craft your dental bridge.
Advantages Of Dental Bridges
Improved Oral Health A dental bridge fills the gap between missing teeth. Once the bridge is in place, patients no longer have to worry about the gaps in their teeth. Instead, patients can enjoy improved oral and overall health. When patients have gaps between their teeth, these spaces can cause a variety of problems. The missing tooth structure can cause the other teeth to shift out of place, which may create problems with bite alignment and TMJ disorders. Patients may also experience jaw bone loss in the areas where the teeth are missing. A dental bridge can help prevent these issues.
Improved Facial Appearance A dental bridge is capable of improving your smile’s appearance by filling in your smile’s gaps. These gaps, caused by missing teeth, can make your smile look less attractive. Gaps can also leave portions of your smile more vulnerable to plaque buildup, which can cause tooth decay. A dental bridge can prevent this from occurring.
Improved Speech One advantage of dental bridges is that they can help improve your speech. This is because the missing teeth can cause your speech pattern to change. The teeth (or the space) can affect your pronunciation of some sounds. With dental bridges, your speech may improve.
Improved Comfort A bridge improves comfort by allowing patients to eat their favorite foods without complications. Patients who get a bridge can enjoy foods like corn on the cob, apples, and other foods that may have previously led to pain when chewing.
Improved Eating A dental bridge can restore your ability to chew, eat, and speak properly. Eating is one of the most difficult things to do without teeth. By replacing your missing teeth, you can restore your ability to eat what you want.
Improved Oral Functionality A dental bridge can restore your ability to eat and speak properly. It provides support for your mouth and helps keep your existing teeth in place. You can eat and speak just as you would if you had all of your teeth. This can improve your quality of life and prevent further oral health complications.
Use And Fit Of Dental Bridges
When are dental bridges used? Dental bridges can be used to replace missing teeth. They are made up of two crowns and pontics (artificial teeth). The crowns are attached to the teeth on each side of the missing tooth, and the pontics fill in the gap.
How are dental bridges fitted? Dental implants are placed first into the jaw bone. A temporary bridge is then placed on top of the implants. This provides patients with a fully functioning set of teeth until their permanent bridge is ready. The permanent bridge can be attached or cemented into place.
Types of dental bridges:
Traditional bridge – In a traditional bridge, the majority of the enamel is removed from both teeth adjacent to the missing tooth or teeth. After this is done, an impression of the area is taken. This impression is used to create the bridge, which consists of crowns for the adjacent teeth with an artificial tooth, or Pontic, in between. This type of bridge can be removable or permanent, but permanent bridges are more common and easier to maintain once they’re in place. Permanent traditional bridges are made of porcelain and are bonded to the adjacent teeth with a dental cement. A traditional bridge can be used to replace a single tooth, or multiple teeth if need be.
Cantilever bridge – A cantilever bridge is similar to a traditional bridge, except that it is secured by one adjacent tooth instead of two. Since it is only mounted to one natural tooth, a cantilever bridge is not as strong as a traditional bridge, and is therefore unsuitable for use on teeth that will be subject to large amounts of pressure, like molars. It is also unsuitable for replacing more than one tooth.
Maryland bridges – a Maryland bridge is secured by either metal or porcelain wings that are bonded to the adjacent natural teeth. While not as strong as a traditional bridge, a Maryland bridge has the advantage of not requiring extensive grinding on the adjacent teeth to be mounted.
If you’re missing one or more teeth, a bridge may be just the ticket to get you back to having a fully functional, beautiful smile. Give us a call today to find out what tooth replacement option is right for you.
Are Dental Bridges Painful?
Dental bridges are secured in place by attaching to the teeth on either side of the gap. Patients are typically not in pain after the procedure. This is because the teeth on both sides of the gap are filed down to make space for the dental bridge to fit. The amount of time needed to prepare your teeth will depend on the type of bridge you choose.
To find out more about the dental services offered by our dentist in Albuquerque NM, Dr. Snyder, call (505)-293-7611, schedule an online consultation or visit us at 4830 Juan Tabo Blvd. NE, Ste. K, Albuquerque, NM, 87111.
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