Could dental bridges complete your beautiful smile? Dental bridges cover or bridge the gap created by missing teeth. Restoring your smile is just one of the many benefits of dental bridges, they can also restore your ability to properly chew and speak, preserve the shape of your face, prevent other teeth from shifting out of location, and aids the force in your bite by replacing the missing teeth.
Dental bridges are made up of crowns, two anchoring teeth located on each side of the gap, the anchoring teeth are called abutment teeth and a false tooth in between. The false teeth are made from gold, porcelain, alloys and a combination of these materials. All dental bridges are supported by dental implants or natural teeth.
After visiting a dentist and learning that a bridge is the best option to replace your missing tooth or teeth, you will have to select the ideal material. One that will work for your specific condition and meets your needs. The material availability will depend on where in the mouth the dental bridge will be implanted, your dental insurance coverage, and other factors your dentists will discuss with you.
X-rays of the affected area will be taken to plan for the best restoration for you and depending on the number of missing teeth, you may need bridges of three or more units. The following are the three main types of dental bridges, always remember to take into consideration your specific needs as a patient.
Cantilever Bridges:
This method is only used when there are adjacent teeth in only one side of the missing tooth or teeth. Not recommended to use in the back of the mouth where too much force may damage the teeth.
Traditional Bridges:
These are the most common type of dental bridges porcelain mixed with metal or ceramics.
Maryland Bonded Bridges:
Maryland bonded bridges are made of porcelain, porcelain mixed with metal, or plastic teeth. Porcelain or metal wings sometimes are bonded to your existing teeth on just one side of the bridge.
Good oral hygiene and regular dentist visits can preserve dental bridges allowing it to last anywhere from 5 to 15 years, even longer in some cases. Is very important to keep the remaining teeth healthy because they are the solid foundation of your dental bridge. It is highly important to always brush your teeth twice a day and use antiseptic mouthwashes daily. This way preventing future tooth decay and gum disease that can lead to more tooth loss. Also recommended, consider a balanced diet to supply your body with the proper nutrients.
Find out if you are a candidate for a dental bridge, call Dr. Hagerman at Family & Cosmetic Dentistry. Hagerman Dental Care proudly serves the area of St. Paul and Minneapolis, Minnesota. If you’d like to schedule an appointment please call us at (651)646-2392 or schedule an appointment online!