What Is A Dental Bridge?
A dental bridge utilizes the teeth on either side of a missing tooth to serve as the anchors for bridges, which are essentially groups of crowns all cast together. A dental bridge (also called a pontic) is made up of two or more crowns that support the teeth between a gap. A dental bridge can be supported by a dental implant or your natural teeth depending how much bone structure and decay there is. A dental bridge can be made from a variety of materials including gold, silver, platinum or more. Most often, patients request their dental bridge to be made out of porcelain so that it bears a closer resemblance to their natural teeth.
A dental bridge will allow you to regain normal eating and chewing function as you will no longer have a gap between your teeth where food can get stuck. A dental bridge can also help improve speech as having gaps in your teeth can alter the way you speak and often make you feel reluctant or embarrassed to speak, especially in public. We often see an improvement in patients self-esteem and confidence after getting a new dental bridge.
A key benefit of a dental bridge versus dentures is that a dental bridge is not required to be removed regularly for cleaning like a denture. Dental bridges can be cleaned simply by brushing your teeth so there is very little maintenance other than maintaining a regular brushing and flossing routine. It also takes less time for patients to become acclimated and comfortable with their new dental bridge because it quickly becomes part of the new structure of their mouth.
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What Types of Dental Bridges Are Available?
A fixed dental bridge is a bridge that is immovable; it is held in place using cement or screws, and only a dentist can remove this type of bridge. A cantilever bridge is a structure in which the false tooth is anchored to only one neighboring tooth. Another type of bridge that can be used is a resin-bonded bridge. These are not as strong as fixed and cantilever bridges, but they are both less expensive and not permanent. Unlike the two aforementioned bridges, which entail the filing of the teeth adjacent to the empty space in order to make room for the structure to be installed, resin-bonded bridges are put in place by inserting a false tooth with metal wings into the space. Then, your dentist will use resin to bond the wings to the adjacent teeth.
If you have questions about the dental bridge process, please don’t hesitate to contact our office for a free consultation and thorough explanation of the procedure. We would be happy to answer any questions you may have and provide an estimate of out-of-pocket expenses prior to starting treatment so you know what to expect.
Dr. Douglas Hamill has been serving Williamsville, Amherst, and the greater Buffalo region for almost 20 years and would love to help you achieve the smile of your dreams. We offer targeted, individualized care to patients who need additional help with safeguarding their teeth and healing their gums. When you come to our office, you will always see the same dentist and we don’t shuffle you off to other dentists in our practice.
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This educational blog post was brought to you by Douglas Hamill DDS. Please call our Amherst Dentist or Williamsville Dentist office if you are interested in a dental bridge for yourself or a loved one. Dr. Douglas Hamill is dedicated to providing the best care for you and your family. Call and schedule a free consultation today and let us put a smile on your face!
I didn’t know that there were different types of dental bridges that you could have. That is really nice that you can have a fixed dental bridge that is immovable. That sounds like it could be really nice to have if you don’t want it to move everywhere. I know that my uncle might have to get a dental bridge and that sounds like a great option.
I lost a few teeth, so I want to make sure that I get them replaced properly. It makes sense that having some dental bridges put in would be a good idea! It’s nice that they can replace multiple teeth.
I was on the phone with my friend the other day about her interest in getting dental bridges. She would like to learn a little more about them and needed some insights from friends. I will let her know that the fixed bridges will not move.
Thanks for mentioning how a dental bridge should fill in a gap between teeth. I also like how you said that they can be put in with cement. My husband is looking for a dentist to give him porcelain dental bridges.
EXCELLENT blog amazing article thank you so much for sharing it
Thanks for helping me understand that dental bridges are being anchored on another tooth to replace a missing tooth. I just needed to know about these things because I have to find out how to get my missing tooth replaced since it has been bothering me due to the food particles that keeps on getting stuck into it. Now, I have to find a good dentist to trust.
I appreciate the information you gave about a fixed tooth bridge being secured by cement or screws. I think that knowing which bridge to get, whether temporary or not, it’s a good idea to find the best dental service available. My wife and I will be sure to consider temporary teeth bridges if we ever find ourselves in need and we’ll be sure to go somewhere reliable.
Thanks for helping me understand that the resin-bonded bridge is more affordable than the two other bridges. With that in mind, I will choose this for myself since I am on a limited budget due to paying for the rent recently. I just have a gap between my teeth because of an accident when I was in high school due to cheerleading stunts.