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Dental bridges fill the gap between healthy teeth after the middle tooth has been lost or removed. Bridging a gap aids in maintaining the performance of daily mouth functions, such as eating, speaking, and drinking. It is also a great solution to maintain the integrity of the patient’s jaw. For some patients, dental bridges are also great alternatives to dentures and dental implants.
4 Different Types of Dental Bridges
Traditional
Traditional dental bridges involve cementing dental crowns, called abutments, over the adjacent healthy teeth, with a pontic attached in the middle. In effect, the fake tooth fills the gap left by the missing tooth. The healthy teeth will be filed down to provide room and a better fit for the new crown in this method.
Cantilever
Cantilever dental bridges almost follow the same steps used in traditional dental bridges. However, their difference is that the cantilever type only involves a single abutment to cover a single adjacent tooth.
Maryland
Unlike the traditional and cantilever dental bridge types, the Maryland dental bridge uses bridges secured by a metal or porcelain framework attached to the back of the adjacent healthy teeth. This method does not require any filing to make room for the crown.
Implant-Supported
For cases where multiple teeth are missing, dentists may recommend the use of an implant-supported bridge. Instead of crowns, dental implants will support the bridge, and it’s usually an implant per missing tooth.
What are the Benefits of Dental Bridges?
Restores the Mouth’s Functions
A lot of changes will happen as the result of a missing tooth. One of the changes includes the altering of the mouth’s functions. Dental bridges are effective for regaining both aesthetic and practical functions of the mouth.
When the gap left by the missing tooth gets filled with a pontic along with the dental bridge, the dental bridge will now act like the original teeth. It aids in mastication while reducing issues missing teeth often cause in speech.
Maintains the Face’s Natural Shape
Losing a tooth also means losing the alveolar bone supporting it. As our body reshapes the bone in the gap left by the missing tooth, it may be more challenging to get the teeth replaced in the future.
Meanwhile, if an opposing tooth is left opposite of the gap with nothing to bite onto, a phenomenon called Overeruption can occur where the gap will push out the tooth adjacent to it. Overall, failing to fill the gaps can place you at risk of bone loss in the jaw, which may cause significant issues for both the look of your face and your mouth’s functions.
Provides Convenience
Dental bridges offer convenience compared to traditional dentures. Unlike dentures, bridges don’t need to be removed every night. In effect, leaving it on reduces the risk of loss or damage and eliminates the need for time-consuming nightly rituals.
However, dental bridges are artificial replacements and still require maintaining good oral hygiene. Even if they’re on your teeth permanently, you should still visit your dentist to get oral cleaning services every six months.
Conclusion
People have come a long way in terms of ways to preserve their teeth, even after a loss. Dental bridges have become a better option for people looking for replacements after removing their teeth due to trauma, tooth decay, or gum infection. Overall, dental bridges may become someone’s best pick if they’re only missing a tooth for now.
Dental House is the Home of Dentistry in Ypsilanti. We believe that people shouldn’t settle for a smile that makes them cringe. Instead, you deserve a smile that makes you appear more successful and attractive. Here at Dental House, we offer various cosmetic dentistry procedures for patients looking for a better smile. Make an appointment on our website today, and we’ll see you in our dentist chair!
