Everything You Want to Know about Dental Bridges

Dental bridges are tooth restorations that can replace one or several missing or broken teeth with false teeth. Bridges use one or more natural teeth on either side of the gap to secure the false teeth in place.

The dental clinic in Etobicoke, ON, regularly offers a fixed bridge that is permanent or removable, meaning that a patient wearing it can remove them from the mouth. The fake tooth in the bridge is called a Pontic by dentists, but some healthcare providers refer to a bridge as a fixed partial denture. In this article, you can learn more about dental bridges.

What Are Dental Bridges?

Dental bridges can replace a tooth or several teeth by fake teeth that appear and function like natural teeth. If you need a dental bridge, you must contact the dentist in Rexdale, Etobicoke, ON, who specializes in restoring and replacing lost teeth. However, it must be understood that are different options for filling a gap in a smile. One option is to have a crown where a fake tooth is attached to a portion of a natural tooth that is ground down by the dentist. If an individual loses a tooth due to decay or injury or has the tooth extracted by a dentist, a crown by itself is not the best option. In such cases, a dental bridge is a more suitable choice.

The word bridge is a structure containing one or more false teeth. The fabric is held in place by dental crowns on both sides of the gap in the mouth. For example, if a patient loses many front teeth, the dentist will use a zirconia bridge to close the gap for aesthetic purposes. Patients may not want to display gaps between their teeth after losing teeth due to extractions or decay. They may desire to have a tooth in the area for chewing or for cosmetic purposes.

Types of Dental Bridges Available

Four types of dental bridges are available, and they are a traditional bridge, cantilever bridge, Maryland bridge, and implant-supported bridges. A cantilever bridge needs only one dental crown for support. The procedure for having them is less intensive and is a good option for patients that do not want to damage their neighboring healthy teeth.

Uses of Dental Bridges

Dental bridges can help a person feel comfortable with their smile and also enable them to chew properly. When people lose their teeth, it affects their bite to cause pain and difficulties when eating. Replacing the missing teeth will help to prevent these complications. A bridge will be needed if:

• If a person loses a tooth due to decay or has it extracted.
• Tooth loss is caused by an injury or accident, rendering the tooth beyond repair.
• An infection or deep decay renders the tooth incapable of being repaired by a filling or root canal treatment.

What to Expect When Getting Dental Bridges?

When a patient is recommended a traditional tooth bridge by the dental clinic in Rexdale, Etobicoke, ON, the procedure begins by preparing the teeth on both sides of the gap. The neighboring teeth will be ground down by the dentist, after which an impression of the mouth will be taken to help with fitting the bridge. The dentist will put a temporary bridge on the ground down teeth to protect them. Temporary bridges appear like real teeth but are not permanent. Therefore it is crucial to return to the dentist in a few weeks for the permanent bridge.

After the permanent bridge is ready, the dentist will remove the temporary structures and affix the permanent bridge with the help of strong adhesives. Getting dental bridges requires a couple of appointments at the dentist’s office. Patients preferring implant-supported bridges will have to go through an intensive procedure, which can take several months to complete.

Recovering From Dental Bridge Placement

Patients may experience tenderness and soreness in the mouth after the dentist grinds down their teeth, which will also be present after the placement of the permanent bridge. The sensitivity and pain will disappear in a few days, but the gums will need more time to recover from the procedure. Patients can return to work or school after they feel well enough, which is usually the day after their appointment.

Patients must care for the bridges appropriately by practicing appropriate oral hygiene to prevent further decay, visit their dentist twice a year for cleanings and checking the bridge, and inquire with the dentist if they must avoid certain foods.

Dental bridges are a suitable solution to close gaps left by missing teeth. The process is not as intensive as having dental implants and gives people their smile back within a couple of appointments.