Dental Bridges Appropriate Replacements for Missing Teeth
Teeth replacements become inevitable if you lose one or more teeth. Loss of teeth exposes you to the consequences of tooth loss imposing upon you challenges like shifting teeth, chewing and biting difficulties, a bad bite, and various other problems. You can have the replacements using temporary options like dentures or decide on dental bridges providing a natural-looking appearance in place of your missing teeth.
Aren’t you aware of what dental bridges are? Dental bridges are fixed restorations to replace one or more missing teeth from your mouth. Dental bridges imitate the appearance, function, and shape of your natural teeth. Tooth bridges are customized according to your specific needs.
Porcelain helps make most dental bridges attached to a metal structure for support. All ceramic bridges, a combination of porcelain and other materials, are also available and have a similar appearance.
When Do Dental Bridges Become Necessary?
The dentist in Rexdale, Ontario, recommends dental bridges over implants if you have existing crowns on the abutment teeth. Dental bridges are also recommended if you cannot have dental implants for medical reasons.
Dental bridges are similar to dental implants and may become necessary if you lose a tooth due to severe tooth decay, old age, medications, trauma or injury, and gum disease.
What Kind Of Dental Bridges Are Available?
West Humber dentistry offers you four types of dental bridges. They are a traditional dental bridge, Maryland dental bridge, cantilever bridge, and implant-supported bridge. The fake teeth in dental bridges are called pontics. You require one pontic for every missing tooth customized to resemble the shape and size of the missing tooth.
The Pontic is anchored to a tooth or teeth adjacent to the gap called abutments. If you do not have abutment teeth, you can have a dental implant-supported dental bridge.
Are Dental Bridges Suitable for Everyone?
Everyone is not suitable for dental bridges. Factors that can compromise your candidacy can include health conditions, infections, health problems, lack of healthy teeth or supporting bone structure to support the bridge, poor oral health, and poor overall health. Therefore, you must discuss these factors with West Humber dentistry before deciding whether bridges are suitable for you.
How Do Dental Bridges Benefit You?
Dental bridges in Rexdale, Ontario, benefit you by restoring the appearance of your mouth and smile, restoring your ability to speak normally because missing teeth can impede proper pronunciation, help you maintain standard facial structure by preventing jawbone loss from the site of the lost tooth, restoring your ability to choose correctly and preventing the neighboring teeth from moving into the space left by the missing tooth.
Getting Dental Bridges
You can choose to have a permanent dental bridge by selecting a traditional or cantilever bridge. When getting permanent restorations for missing teeth, enamel and dentin removal from the supporting teeth is inevitable by the dentist to make space for the dental crowns. After preparing the supporting teeth, the dentist places temporary crowns on them for protection until permanent bridge placement.
During a second appointment, the dentist will remove the temporary crowns and check the permanent crown and bridge to ensure it fits properly. Finally, the bridge is cemented in place to give you your artificial tooth.
If you are looking for partial dentures for front teeth, the dentist recommends a Maryland bridge with wings that don’t require extensive preparation of the abutment teeth. Instead, Maryland bridges merely need etching of your abutment teeth on the back to help the wings bond to the supporting teeth.
Suppose you are suitable for implant-supported bridges and are willing to go through an extensive procedure. In that case, you can have a permanent replacement lasting for a lifetime supported by dental implants. Implant-supported bridges are the most stable but require a surgical procedure and lengthy healing time before you can have an artificial tooth over it.
Caring for Dental Bridges
Dental bridges are not removable like dentures and are considered permanent. However, they don’t last forever, and their average lifespan is around five to seven years. Proper dental hygiene ensures some dental bridges stay for over a decade.
Excellent dental hygiene is essential to keep your dental bridge and remaining teeth more robust and healthier and increase the lifespan of your replacement teeth. You must brush your teeth twice daily, floss at least once, and schedule six-monthly dental visits for cleanings. In addition, making dietary changes like avoiding chewy and sticky foods, sugary foods, and beverages help prevent tooth decay under the dental crowns and bridge they support.
If you intend to replace the missing teeth with dental bridges, contact West Humber dentistry to consult whether the replacement is suitable for your needs.