Do you get conscious in public while laughing or try to hide the gap between your teeth due to missing or decayed tooth? A dental bridge can replace one or more missing teeth with artificial teeth. The bridges use one or more real teeth to hold the artificial tooth in place. 

Patients who have recently lost their teeth due to an injury, natural cause, or medical condition, might be searching for for a solution to restore their smile. A missing tooth is more than a cosmetic problem, as the gap can cause pain while chewing, grabbing a bite, and tooth infection. 

What are Dental Implants?

If you have missing teeth, a dental bridge closes the gaps between them. A bridge is nothing but a false tooth (called Pontic) held in one place by the abutment teeth on either side of the gap. A dental bridge can replace one or multiple teeth and function like the real teeth. 

The replacement tooth fills in space where the tooth is missing, creating a natural appearance while helping to restore the tooth.

Dental bridges are of four types. Your Prosthodontist will help you choose the right bridge that best serves your purposes. 

An alternative option for dental bridges is dental implants. Dental implants are fake teeth surgically inserted into the bone in the mouth. 

What are Dental Bridges made up of?

Different types of dental bridges are made of different materials such as porcelain, alloy, gold, and consolidations. They are also made of ceramic or a metal base with ceramic coating to match the natural colour of the teeth. Your dentist will guide you in choosing the best-suited dental bridge for desired results. 

What are the types of Dental Bridges?

There are four main types of dental bridges:

  • Traditional bridges: It is the most popular type of dental bridge as it offers natural-looking tooth/teeth to fill the gap created by your missing tooth. The false tooth is held in place by dental crowns cemented onto each of the abutment teeth. 
  • Cantilever bridges: Almost similar to the traditional bridges, the cantilever bridges are held in place by a dental crown cemented to only one abutment tooth. To consider a cantilever bridge, you need only one natural tooth next to the missing tooth gap.
  • Maryland bridges: The Maryland bridges employ two natural abutment teeth, one on each side of the gap. It uses either a framework made of porcelain or metal to bond on the backs of the abutment teeth. Similar to the traditional bridges, the Maryland bridges can only be used when you have a natural tooth on each side of the gap caused by the missing tooth or teeth.
  • Implant-supported bridges: In case of one implant gets impossible to replace a missing tooth; your dentist might suggest the implant-supported bridges between two implant-supported crowns. It requires two surgeries – one to embed the implants in your jawbone and the second surgery to place the bridge.

Why do I need a dental bridge?

If you have a missing tooth or teeth, it can affect you in numerous ways. A dental bridge can resolve the following problems associated with a missing tooth:

  • Restore your beautiful and fuller smile
  • Restore your ability to chew and grab a bite without hurting your mouth
  • Improves your vocabulary and pronunciation
  • Improves your facial structure
  • Prevent overcrowding of the teeth
  • Strengthen your jawbone and gums

Treatment Overview

The type of surgical approach depends on the type of bridges chosen for the patient. However, the standard procedures to expect during your dental bridge surgery are mentioned below.

The procedure starts with your dentist cleaning the gaps between each side of the teeth and removing the decay.

Next, they will take an impression of your mouth that will help with fitting the bridges.

Meanwhile, the dentist puts a temporary bridge on the missing tooth to protect it from any damage or decay.

After a few weeks, you will be asked to revisit the clinic; once your real bridges are ready.

The dentist removes the temporary bridges and affixes the bridges using strong adhesives.

In case the patient had implants to support the bridges, the dentist will start the procedure with implant surgery.

What are the complications of dental bridge surgery?

Choose the best dental clinic for dental bridges to eliminate any health complications and risks. The board-certified dentists will ensure the patients receive the best treatment at their clinic. Risks associated with dental bridges are:

  • Tooth infection
  • Bridge failure
  • Tooth decay
  • Gum disease
  • Pain while chewing or grabbing a nibble

How to recover from dental bridge surgery?

A patient might feel tender and sore mouth after the dentist grinds down the teeth. The soreness ends within a few days. However, the gums might take a few more weeks to heal completely. To ensure a healthy recovery, a patient should practice the following procedures:

  • Brush and floss twice a day to maintain oral hygiene and prevent tooth decay
  • Visit your dentist twice a year to check the bridges and teeth cleaning
  • Ask your dentist the do’s and don’ts to ensure a healthy recovery

Tooth decay or missing tooth can affect a person’s ability to smile confidently, ability to eat their favourite food, and hinders the quality of life. Dental bridges can restore your smile. However, before opting for any dental treatment, consult our dentists at Smile Studio to discuss the treatment options best suited for your dental preferences and health. 

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