Are You Preparing for Dental Bridges: Here’s What You Can Expect

Are You Preparing for Dental Bridges: Here’s What You Can Expect

January 1, 2022

Preparing for dental bridges confirms you have one or more missing teeth and are looking to fill the gap in your mouth with one or more fake teeth. Crowns generally help make bridges sitting on either side of the missing tooth with a supporting Pontic or artificial tooth cemented between them. If you consider dental bridges to replace your missing teeth consulting Shore Dental will serve the purpose.

What Are Dental Bridges?

Dental bridges are replacements for your missing teeth and help fill the gap with one or more fake teeth. Whether you have lost your tooth or teeth to tooth decay, gum disease, or injury, dental bridges help replace the missing tooth so long as you have healthy teeth adjacent to the gap left by your lost tooth.

Why You May Need Dental Bridges?

Your teeth are tailored to function together. If you have a missing tooth, the adjacent teeth begin shifting towards the empty space. Your teeth in the upper or lower jaw also move upwards or downwards towards the vacant space to create bite problems, chewing difficulties, self-consciousness with your appearance and smile, and pain from the additional stress on your teeth and jaw.

What Do Dental Bridges Appear like?

Dental bridges have two parts. The first is the abutment teeth when the dentist near you places two dental crowns on the teeth adjacent to the gap functioning as supporting teeth. The second is to place the Pontic or fake tooth to fill the gap and attach it to the crowns.

Types of Dental Bridges

Dental bridges near you offers four types of bridges for your teeth. They are:

  • Conventional Fixed Bridge: Conventional bridges are the most common having two or more crowns and a Pontic connected together. The crowns help keep the bridge in place. Metals, porcelain fused to metal, or ceramics help make conventional bridges.
  • Cantilever Bridges: with cantilever bridges the Pontic connects to merely one supporting tooth adjacent to the missing tooth gap. Cantilever bridges are an option if you have teeth on one side of the gap left by the missing tooth.
  • Maryland Bridges: If you have missing front teeth you may find it beneficial to use a Maryland bridge. Ceramics or porcelain fused to metal supported by a number help make Maryland Bridges. Wings on both sides of the bridges bond to your existing teeth.
  • Implant-Supported Bridges: Considered as the most durable option implant-supported Bridges are similar to conventional fixed bridges. However, instead of cementing the teeth to supporting teeth, the bridge is held in place by implants.

Advantages of Dental Bridges

Dental bridges from the dentist in North port help prevent your remaining teeth from moving out of place and restore your ability to speak and chew. While helping you with your bite dental bridges also help restore your smile by preventing jawbone deterioration.

The Dental Bridge Procedure

The dental bridge procedure requires at least two appointments with Dr. David R Smith.

Your first visit to the doctor is to reshape the abutment teeth by removing some enamel and dentin to make space for the dental crowns. The professional impressions your teeth for the dental laboratory creating a model for your bridge, crowns, and fake teeth. The dentist provides you with a temporary bridge to protect the prepared teeth while the dental lab creates your permanent restoration.

The second visit is for permanent bridge replacement when the dentist begins the procedure by temporary bridge removal and places the permanent bridge. They also check the permanent bridge to ensure it fits you comfortably and make adjustments if required. If all things are acceptable, the permanent replacement is bonded to your prepared teeth to give you your new artificial teeth.

What Is the Lifespan of Dental Bridges?

Dental bridges last between five to seven years. However, if you maintain appropriate dental hygiene and get regular professional cleanings, you can prolong the life of the replacement teeth for over a decade.

Caring for your dental bridge isn’t challenging so long as you remember the success of dental bridges depend on the strength and durability of your natural teeth. Therefore it is particularly essential for you to prevent tooth decay or gum disease leading causes for tooth loss from affecting you. When you have dental bridges you must ensure you brush your teeth twice a day and floss them at least once without exceptions. Getting regular professional cleanings is also a requirement you cannot overlook. If you follow the minimal recommendations of your dentist diligently you can have dental bridges in your mouth for a decade or more successfully.