What is a Dental Bridge and Why Do I Need a Dental Bridge?

Tooth loss is a situation that affects many aspects of your life, from your appearance to the way you speak and eat. Thankfully, most of these changes in your lifestyle can be reverted by one of the many tooth replacement options that modern dentistry has to offer. One option that has been used for many decades is dental bridges. Even though it isn’t the most advanced type of tooth replacement, it may be the best option for some patients. In this article, you will learn all you need to know before acquiring dental bridges in Palm Beach Gardens.

What are dental bridges?

Dental bridges allow dentists to fill the gaps in your smile with one or more fake teeth (pontics) that are supported on each side by abutment teeth. Abutment teeth are natural teeth that have a dental crown. Before acquiring dental bridges, a dentist in Palm Beach Gardens will examine your natural teeth and determine if they are healthy enough to support the pontics. If this is the case, the teeth are modified so that dental crowns can be placed on them.

There are four types of dental bridges

Not all dental bridges are the same and each type may be more beneficial to a specific type of patient. You could receive professional advice on which type is best for you at a dental clinic near you, but it is best if you already have an idea before going.

The most common one is the traditional bridge. It is the very definition of a dental bridge, a type of tooth replacement that fills in your missing teeth with pontics and supports them with dental crowns. Even though they sound basic, they are very strong and can be used to replace any type of tooth. The Cantilever bridge is a slight variation of the traditional one. With this type, the pontics are supported by just one abutment tooth, and not two.

Some dental bridges don’t use dental crowns to stay in place, but rather a metal or porcelain framework. These are called Maryland dental bridges. Finally, other dental bridges are a bit more sophisticated and use dental implants for support (implant-supported bridges). In some cases, the bridge is supported by two dental implants, but some dentists prefer to insert one dental implant for each missing tooth, resulting in a more stable and secure bridge.

Pros and cons of dental bridges

The main benefit of dental bridges is that they improve the functionality of patients and offer natural-looking results. They are a good option for people who are on a budget. Several things can affect the cost of dental bridges, like how many teeth must be replaced and the materials used to design, but overall dental bridges are very affordable. On the other hand, they can be made in a matter of days. This is very different from other types of tooth replacement such as dental implants, which involve a process that can take up to a couple of months. Furthermore, dental bridges are a great option for people who can’t undergo dental implant surgery due to health conditions that impair their healing capacity such as diabetes.,/p>

In regards to the disadvantages of dental implants, it is important to point out that this procedure requires a dentist to file down the enamel on the abutment teeth to place the dental crown that holds the pontics. After doing this, your enamel won’t grow back so these teeth will need a dental crown for the rest of your life. Also, dental crowns don’t stimulate the jawbone and won’t stop it from deteriorating as a result of tooth loss.

 

Scroll to Top