Missing at least a tooth in your mouth can make you uncomfortable and adversely affect the functionality of your smile, food chewing, and oral health. Spaces in the mouth will result in bite problems, teeth shifting, and periodontal disease because the gaps create a suitable environment for breeding bacteria and infections. Also, open sockets in the mouth can cause tooth decay and speech problems.
Do you have appearance and functionality problems due to missing teeth, and are you looking for a restorative solution?
Dental bridges could be an excellent option because they restore your appearance, speech, a flawless smile and fill gaps in the mouth. Nonetheless, before you choose the solution, you must understand when it is right to seek the treatment to maximize its benefits. We highlight when it is suitable for a bridge.
Dental Bridges Definition
Also called a fixed partial denture, filler, or false tooth, a dental bridge is an artificial tooth that replaces the natural one that is missing. Bridges are made of materials like porcelain, gold, or alloys and are used to replace missing natural front teeth because of the matching colors. The false teeth are secure because they are attached to adjacent teeth. It is the reason the procedure works for individuals when teeth are missing in a row or next to each other so that the crowns connected to the bridge can anchor it to the adjoining natural teeth. The crown can secure the bridge and the appliance even with over two missing natural teeth.
Dental Bridges Types
Fixed dental bridges take many forms, including conventional, cantilever, implant-supported, and resin-bonded bridges. The false tooth that secures the bridge is known as a pontic, which assumes the size and shape of the missing natural tooth. It is anchored in the missing tooth space, and the crowns reinforce it. Also, a typical bridge will have abutment teeth that support the crowns. These abutments could be your natural teeth adjacent to the open socket or dental implants. The different types of bridges are further discussed below:
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Conventional or Traditional Bridges
Conventional bridges are a common type that involves creating a false tooth or teeth anchored by a crown attached to the healthy teeth adjacent to the missing natural tooth to secure the bridge. Therefore, your dentist should recommend traditional bridges when you have healthy natural teeth next to a gap in the mouth. During treatment, these healthy teeth will be reshaped for the proper anchorage of the crown to secure the bridge safely. You can choose ceramics or metal porcelain material when you opt for this replacement option.
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Cantilever Bridges
You will need cantilever bridges when you only have one healthy natural tooth next to the missing tooth, meaning the bridge is only anchored to one tooth and crown. You only need one side of your missing tooth to have a natural tooth for the treatment, unlike traditional bridges where you need natural teeth on both sides of the space. Dentists rarely recommend this treatment, especially for the back teeth, where you apply a lot of force during chewing, damaging the bridge.
Similarly, you can rely on these bridges when a critical situation leaves you with no natural teeth adjacent to the gap. Cantilever dental bridges will be the right choice when reshaping the adjoining teeth of the space for a crown could adversely affect your appearance and smile. An excellent example is when a front tooth adjoins the gap. Again, this bridge type will be helpful when you have an opening at the back of your mouth or supporting teeth already anchoring another prosthetic tooth.
The design of cantilever dental appliances is that the pontic is placed outside the abutment tooth to provide adequate support to the pontic. The bridge will not be secure enough if the abutment is destabilized during placement. Therefore, proper planning is required to lower the risk of destabilization.
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Maryland Bridges
Also called resin-bonded, these bridges utilize porcelain fused to metal, plastic teeth, porcelain, or gums anchored by a porcelain framework or metal at the back of the abutment teeth when natural, healthy teeth are adjacent to the gap. The bridges are typically used to replace missing front teeth. During treatment, the pontic is attached to the in-line natural teeth with gold or porcelain fused in metal wings anchored behind the healthy teeth on each side. Once the dentist tests it and it is a proper fit, they attach the bridge, attach the metal wings to the prop teeth with sturdier resin, and cure it.
Compared to conventional bridges, Maryland bridges are more conservative because dentists do not need to reshape the adjoining teeth to allow crown placement. The porcelain wings are attached to the back of the abutment teeth.
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Implant-Supported Bridges
Implant-supported dental appliances rely on implants to anchor the bridges instead of crowns. Therefore, your dentist will surgically place a dental implant for every missing tooth to secure the bridges. Under this type of dental bridge, you must undergo two procedures, one for attaching the implant to your jawbone and the other for placing the bridges.
The recovery duration after treatment depends on the position of the missing tooth and whether your jaw is strong enough to anchor the implant. After the first procedure, your dentist will place a temporary bridge to serve you until the next appointment, where permanent bridges are placed. The second procedure involves suturing the gums. Healing will take longer than for other bridge types.
Each of these forms of the bridge has a particular purpose. Although dental bridges intend to close the spaces left by missing teeth, each bridge has features that make it suitable under specific circumstances.
When is Dental Bridge Recommended?
Having open sockets in the mouth left by missing teeth can be devastating. Nonetheless, as time passes on, you could become comfortable with the situation, allowing the open sockets to become breeding places for bacteria and infections.
Your jawline works better when it has a complete set of teeth. When you observe your teeth closely, you will notice they all function as a unit or together. None of them operates as an entity. The jawline will function efficiently when the gums and teeth work together.
You can experience severe oral problems even with missing or malfunctioning teeth. The first problem with missing teeth is that the ones adjacent to the open socket begin to shift and drift, causing bite problems. When this happens, even the other healthy parts start to weaken. With missing teeth, teeth on the other jaw can start leaning towards the open socket, causing severe misalignment. When your teeth are under duress, the jawline begins to work under pressure, resulting in bite problems, pain stemming from the intense pressure on the joints, and gingiva complications. Sometimes, if the space in your mouth goes too long without being covered, you become self-conscious of your appearance and smile.
Similarly, cleaning becomes problematic when teeth have shifted from their original position. Lack of proper oral hygiene allows plaque to build up in the mouth, creating a conducive environment for the growth of bacteria and infections. Therefore, when you cannot clean your mouth correctly because of teeth misalignment, your teeth are more exposed to decay and diseases, which in the long run will result in tooth loss and shrinkage of the jawbone. These changes will affect your facial structure, making you look older than your actual age.
Bridges are recommended when you have up to three consecutive missing teeth. If you cannot meet the dental implant criteria, you should opt for this treatment, another standard tooth replacement option.
Consultation and Planning
When you start experiencing pain in the mouth, gum complications, chewing problems, change in facial structure and bite problems, you have gaps or missing teeth in the mouth that need replacing. The longer you wait without seeing a professional, the more oral issues you could develop, hence the need to visit a dentist as soon as possible. On your first visit to the dentist, they will examine your oral condition to ensure you do not have periodontitis or tooth decay. If you have any of these oral problems, they must be treated first before you can proceed, or you go with another treatment option.
Also, the dentist will check the natural teeth adjacent to the socket or gap to determine if they are healthy to provide proper anchorage for the bridges. These abutment teeth where crowns are placed must be healthy and robust for the procedure to continue. If these teeth are weak or unhealthy, the dentist will suggest other treatment options based on your circumstances.
If you are a candidate for dental bridges, the dentist will explain various material options for fabricating bridges. The type of bridge depends on the gap's position in the mouth and whether you grind your teeth. Besides, the cost of treatment is another consideration when determining the type of bridge material. If the fee for the bridge type is high, you will require your insurance coverage to pay for the treatment. Today, bridges are made of porcelain fused with gold, metal, or porcelain. Your choice of material will determine the charges for treatment.
After consultation and corroborating that you are a candidate, the next step is treatment planning. Planning involves taking x-rays, impressions, and preoperative pictures of the area around the missing tooth. Your dentist will use the number of teeth missing in a row to establish the bridge units. If you have two missing teeth, they will cement two crowns on the abutment teeth and a pontic.
The Dental Bridges Procedure
Several steps are involved in filling the gap left in your mouth with dental bridges. The first step the dental professional conducting the treatment will take when you visit for treatment is to administer local anesthesia to help you remain comfortable as they prepare the abutment teeth or the teeth adjacent to the gap necessary to anchor the crowns. If these abutment teeth are damaged, they must be built up first before you progress to the next step.
Afterwards, your dental care service will take an imprint of the area surrounding the missing teeth and send it to the dental lab to cast and create a dental bridge. They will take the impression by requesting you to nibble on a putty-like substance to leave a dent in a precise sketch of your jawline. A lab technician will use the indentation to fabricate permanent bridges to fit precisely in the space. If the bridge does not fit precisely, your misalignment problems will continue, causing a further breakdown in your mouth. Therefore, the lab technician takes days to fabricate permanent bridges and ensure they fit your missing teeth perfectly. In the meantime, you will need temporary bridges to protect the teeth as you await the permanent one.
Once your permanent bridges are complete, you will have another appointment with your dentist to remove the temporary appliances and replace them with permanent ones. When placing the permanent bridges, your dentist must ensure the crowns fit perfectly on the abutment teeth before cementing. After the bridge is cemented, you cannot remove it again unless with the help of a dental professional. The dentist must make follow-up tunings to the bridges. This involves assessing the bite and adjusting the bridges accordingly. Your dentist must use temporary adhesive when placing the permanent bridges to allow follow-up adjustments. If you are not used to these dental appliances within a few days, you can go in for adjustments until they fit perfectly. Once the bridges are a seamless fit, they can use the permanent cement for a permanent restoration.
Recovery and After Care
The longevity of your bridge is highly hinged on the abutment teeth or jaw. Therefore, if you want the restoration to be in good shape and last, you must protect and care for your teeth. Your dental care will explain the various aftercare techniques that will ensure quick recovery and durability for more than fifteen years. Some of these techniques are:
- Brush and floss your teeth twice daily for at least two minutes. Relying on floss for teeth cleaning kills the bacteria that forms around your teeth and ensures easy plaque removal.
- The dentist can recommend using a unique floss threader that allows for adequate and thorough floss of areas around the bridge and pontic.
- Utilize approved dental health care products and steer clear of home remedy practices
Dietary Adjustments
After your bridge is in place, you must be cautious about what you eat during recovery. Your dental professional will give you instructions on the foods you should consume and the ones to avoid.
In the long run, particular foods can cause problems for the support teeth and the bridge. For durable and healthy bridges, you must avoid sticky candy, nuts, hard candy, popcorn, and sugary meals.
Cost of Dental Bridges
Bridge prices range from $700 to $1,500 per tooth, depending on many factors. One factor is the location of the dentist. If they are located in major cities, you will pay more for treatment than when you choose a local dentist from a small town. Again, the artistic skills and experience of the dental expert and lab specialist impact the cost. Other factors that affect the rate of treatment are:
- The preparations required to have the teeth ready for the procedure
- Insurance coverage offered by your policy carrier
- The kind of bridge material to be used
- The possible requirement for additional procedures on the teeth next to the gap
The treatment price depends on the number of false teeth or pontics required to replace missing teeth.
Advantages of Having Dental Bridges
Understanding the definition of bridges and when you need them, it is time to know their advantages. First, they restore the natural look of your teeth, enhancing your teeth' health, color, and functionality. Today's bridges are made of porcelain, closely resembling natural teeth. Other merits include:
- Bridges are prevalent restorations, and the placement procedure is not a complex one
- Bridges can be fabricated and placed in your mouth within a short duration
- Bridges help maintain your facial structure
- Distribute bite forces by covering the gaps left by missing teeth
- Ensure the remaining teeth do not shift out of their position
- Restore your capacity to chew or talk properly
Risks Associated With Bridges
It is rare to hear of complications during a dental bridge procedure. However, like other dental procedures, bridges have a specific risk. Some of these risks are:
- Allergic reaction to the material used to make the bridge
- Increased tooth sensitivity to hot and cold meals
- Bridge loss, chipping, or loosening
- Growth of oral infection because when bridges develop problems
If you experience complications after the procedure, inform your dentist immediately to address the issue.
Find an Experienced Tarzana Dentist Near Me
After reading this blog, are dental bridges the proper restorations for your missing teeth?
If a missing tooth or teeth is causing you pain, gum, and chewing problems, it is time to get dental bridges. At Tarzana Dental Care, we are eager to administer the procedure and restore your smile and dental functionality. Call us today at 818-708-3232 to schedule a meeting.