Dental Bridges In Whitehouse, OH
Like modern bridges that connect highways and communities, dental bridges are technological marvels that are remarkable engineering achievements. And like all bridges, dental bridges rely on secure attachments to remain functional and stable. That means bridges are a good choice for patients who have existing teeth that can serve as solid anchors, or plan to use dental implants to stabilize a dental bridge.
Solid Foundations
If natural teeth are the preferred anchor, the teeth will first be topped with a crown to ensure a secure attachment. This is most often done with conventional bridges or cantilever bridges. By contrast, resin-bonded bridges are often used for gaps in the front of the mouth and are not typically attached with the use of crowns. Maryland bridges are secured with the use of metal bands that are attached to the back of anchor teeth.
Today’s bridges come in an array of materials. Metal, alumina, porcelain, zirconia and advanced composite materials allow patients to customize their bridge to optimize the feel and fit of the appliance.
The Benefits of a Dental Bridge
A dental bridge is a popular restorative procedure because it:
- Restores a complete, attractive row of teeth so that you can smile with confidence
- Allows you to chew normally and retain the integrity of your bite
- Improves speech impediments that can develop from gaps in your mouth
- Keeps your teeth in alignment since teeth with a space next to them tend to drift out of place
- Costs less and is typically easier to undergo than dental implants
Types of Dental Bridges
Conventional Fixed Bridge
This is the traditional approach to bridges. Your dentist attaches crowns to the natural teeth on both sides of the missing tooth/teeth to hold the prosthetic teeth securely in place.
Cantilever Bridge
This is like a cantilever bridge, except that that the prosthetic is connected only to another tooth on one side. This approach is appropriate when there is only one natural tooth to attach to or adding a crown to both sides would downgrade the appearance of your smile.
Maryland Bridge
This type of bridge does not require crowns at all. Instead, metal “wings” are attached to the backside of your natural teeth to hold your prosthetic teeth in place. Because of their placement, the wings are not visible to people looking at your smile.
Resin-Bonded Bridge
This is the least invasive approach to dental bridges. Instead of making permanent alterations to your natural teeth, composite resin is used to hold a prosthetic tooth in place. These bridges need to be replaced with more frequency than traditional bridges.
The Procedure
The process of building your bridge starts with a detailed evaluation of your mouth, a full set of X-rays and a mold of your mouth that is created using an impression made in a soft material that is similar to putty. Using this impression, X-rays and other comprehensive measurements, your dentist can create a realistic model that will be used by an outside laboratory to fabricate your bridge.
In cases where the bridge will be attached to nearby teeth, your dentist will slightly reshape the anchor teeth and cap them with a secure crown. If the anchors for your bridge will be dental implants, the process is more involved.
As with any dental implant procedure, the strong titanium roots must first be deeply implanted in the jaw. Once this has been done, the bone needs time to heal. While this happens, the bone begins to fuse with the implant root, creating a strong and stable bond. The final step with placing implants in the mouth is to attach a natural-looking artificial tooth atop the implant root. This is the simplest element of the entire procedure.
While you wait for your permanent bridge to be created, your dentist will send you home from your initial appointment with a temporary bridge that will allow you to begin to adjust to the feel of your new set of teeth and their supporting structure. Your second appointment will focus on ensuring your complete satisfaction with the way your bridge feels in your mouth.
Your dentist will make all necessary adjustments and ensure that your bridge is stable and fully functional, allowing you to enjoy all of the pleasures of a full set of teeth. From eating a wider variety of foods to speaking and smiling with confidence, your new dental appliance will dramatically improve your quality of life.
To learn more about dental bridges, or to schedule an appointment, contact Dental Health Associates of Whitehouse today.