Dental bridges are one of several sound options for replacement of missing teeth. Prior to advents of modern dental medicine and dental implants in the last decade, bridges were the only fixed (non-removable) solution for replacement of missing teeth. A bridge, as the name suggests, forms a connection between two healthy teeth, while filling the gap formed by missing teeth with a replacement tooth or teeth. In the process, the supporting teeth on either side of your tooth gap will have dental crowns placed over them. These crowns will serve as an anchor to hold up the affixed artificial tooth or teeth.
There are various choices in bridge materials:
- A conventional Metal frame – For strength, coated with porcelain, or
- A Metal-free all-ceramic dental bridges. These units are made from one span of metal-free material. Modern dental ceramics are extremely strong and suitable for restoration of back (molar) teeth. They are impressively life-like and translucent for replacement of missing front teeth. Furthermore, these materials are biocompatible resulting in beautiful formation of the gum tissue surrounding them. They simply mimic what God gave us.
Similarly, a bridge can be affixed to dental implants on each side of the span of missing teeth in situations that the number of missing teeth renders a traditional tooth-supported bridge less than optimal.
The Procedure
Your smile can be restored with a dental bridge, usually in just two visits. Anchor teeth are reduced and shaped to allow crowns to fit snugly on top. Impressions are taken and used in design of the crown-and-bridge unit. Meanwhile, a temporary bridge is placed to protect prepared teeth and reinstate function and appearance. At a later date, you will return to the office for installation of the final restoration. During this time, your bridge is being created in a dental lab by a master dental technician with close oversight and involvement of our dentists. No detail is left to chance. When your new Bridge is finished, you return to the office for its installment. The interim prosthetic is gently removed and fit of the final bridge is checked. Minute adjustments are made, and it is cemented into place. With proper home care, your bridge will last many years.
When teeth are pulled and missing, unless the area of the missing teeth is preserved by dental implants or bone grafts, the underlying jaw bone forming the shape of the face will resorb. The gradual progression of this process leads to future maladies . A dental bridge can rectify and cessate the progression of many of these adverse processes.
The following are some of the benefits of dental bridges:
- Restoration of a natural smile
- Bring back the ability to chew and speak properly
- Helps maintain the natural shape of the face
- Will equally distribute your bite forces through the teeth replacement
- Prevents your remaining teeth from drifting out of position.