A missing tooth or gap between your teeth does a lot more than take away your confidence to smile in public. It can also cause consequences in your oral health and lead to problems in talking, chewing, and temporomandibular joint disorder. Now if you are seeking effective tooth replacement options to fix your extracted or missing tooth, a dental bridge is often suggested by dentists.
Dental bridges are a permanent and conventional solution for missing teeth to ensure the appearance of your smile, oral health, and function. In a nutshell, bridges fill the space with a prosthetic tooth that looks and feels like a natural one. Here’s an overview of dental bridges that will help you understand the benefits and features of this conservative and cost-effective replacement option.
What is a Dental Bridge?
A dental bridge is a prosthetic aid or artificial tooth that consists of a set of teeth that cover the gap in the patient’s teeth, by creating a bridge over the space. Bridges are usually attached to the crowns and are anchored in their respective position to support the surrounding teeth. With the right dental bridge, you can restore the appearance of your natural smile and regain the complete functionality of your teeth.
Dental bridges have two major parts as,
Abutments are the teeth that keep up the bridge, which could be either original teeth or dental implants. Bridges typically have abutments on either side of the lost teeth.
Pontics are false teeth to bridge the gap between the abutments. There will be more than one pontic if the patient has several missing teeth in a single row.
Types of dental bridge
Most dentists recommend porcelain dental bridges to patients as they blend easily with adjacent teeth. However, depending on the oral problem of the patient, you can opt for one of the major types of dental bridges listed below.
1. Traditional
Also known as conservative bridges, two dental crowns are attached to a false tooth. They are lightweight and aid even distribution of biting force, ensuring proper chewing.
2. Composite
Composite dental bridges are short-term tooth replacement solutions. The dental composite creates the bridge and then attaches to the position. It is usually recommended for missing front teeth and for patients with gum diseases.
3. Maryland
Similar to traditional bridges, Maryland dental bridges are used when two teeth are present to support the pontic. However, instead of covering the crown, the Maryland bridge will be joined to the back of the abutment teeth by porcelain or metal bands.
4. Implant-supported
The structure of this implant-supported structure will resemble the traditional bridges. The only difference is the traditional type has a crown, while this one uses dental implants to secure the pontic. These are the best options to fill large gaps with multiple missing teeth.
When do I need a dental bridge?
Dental bridges are the most common and frequent solution to restore your missing teeth that happen due to decay, fractures, gum diseases, or accidents. The earlier you replace your missing teeth, the better will be your oral health. The indication of this prosthetic treatment option depends on your dentist’s decision. They will perform an appropriate evaluation and comprehensive planning and determine the suitable option. Nonetheless, you might need to opt for the dental bridge in the following cases.
- When you have lost a tooth, it affects the adjacent teeth’ patterns or positions.
- When there is loss of multiple teeth but have healthy neighboring teeth that can support them.
- When you have lost dental pieces in a row, other options are unsuitable.
Why do I need a Dental Bridge?
Dental bridges are used when an individual is missing one or more teeth, resembling the appearance of natural teeth. Your teeth function as one unit. When you have a gap in your teeth or broken teeth will not be stable and strong enough to support the dental crown. When the affected teeth move around or misalign to fill the space, you will experience difficulty chewing, biting, and pain due to the excess pressure on the jaw and teeth. Besides, it will also increase your risk of developing tooth decay and gum diseases.
In addition, if you are missing a tooth in the lower jaw might push the tooth in the upper jaw to shift down, making the tooth alignment uneven. It will affect your bite, exerting more pressure on your teeth and jay. In such situations, dental bridges help you mitigate these problems and restore the normal functions of your teeth. The restoration will protect the remaining natural teeth from shifting from their original positions and prevent the sagging of your facial features.
Reasons to get a dental bridge for your missing tooth
If you have been struggling with missing teeth, you may want to consider the countless benefits of dental bridges. It offers fulfilling solutions to patients by filling the space with prosthetic teeth. Here we have listed some potential benefits of dental bridges that will help you make an informed decision.
1. Prevents shifting of adjacent teeth
When there is a gap or absence of teeth, the neighboring teeth will shift from their original position to fill the space left. Choosing the dental bridge will prevent the shifting and ensure every adjunct tooth stays in its proper position.
2. Improves chewing
After losing a tooth, it is common to experience difficulty or pain while eating food. It is due to the shifting of surrounding teeth towards the missing space. Also, the food particles collect in the empty socket, leading to gum damage. Investing in dental bridge treatment will be a long-term pain relief while you are chewing.
3. Enhances speech
You will find pronouncing or speaking certain words, lisp, or other speech impediments challenging when you lose multiple teeth. Dental bridges will address the root cause and resolve the issues due to the problem.
4. Elevates your appearance
Missing and damaged teeth affect the appearance and attractiveness of your natural smile. Moreover, you will feel awkward or afraid to speak, laugh and chew in front of people. Opting for the dental bridge solution will enhance your appearance and brighten your smile.
5. Maintains the shape of your face
The roots of the tooth stimulate the bone cells present in the jawbone. When there is a lack of stimulation, the jawbone will be affected and deteriorate steadily. Severe jawbone damage will cause future tooth loss and collapse of facial features, impacting the shape of your face. A dental bridge will prevent bone loss from the jaw by replacing the missing tooth or teeth, effectively maintaining the shape of your face.
Final words
A missing tooth or teeth negatively impacts your confidence and your oral health by increasing the risk of cavities and gum diseases. Therefore, you must choose the best dental that suits your specific needs at the right time.
At Woodbridge Dentist, we provide strong and reliable dental bridges to help you achieve a healthy and beautiful smile that will last years. We have highly trained and well-experienced treatment who thrive on delivering high-quality dental care and patient satisfaction.
