All You Need to Know About Dental Bridges
Missing teeth can affect your appearance, speech, and chewing or biting abilities. However, you don’t have to undergo the agony of low self-esteem and food limitations since you can get replacements for your missing teeth.
One of the teeth replacement options you can consider is a dental bridge. A dental bridge closes the gap left by missing teeth by utilizing a pontic, dental crown, porcelain or metal framework, and abutment teeth, depending on the type of dental restoration you get.
How Do I Benefit from Dental Bridges?
When you choose dental bridges, you get to reap the following benefits:
- Improved smile aesthetics
- Restored and improved chewing and speaking abilities
- Maintain your facial structure
- Proper distribution of bite by replacing the missing teeth
- Prevent the adjacent teeth from shifting towards the gap
Available Types of Dental Bridges
There are four types of dental bridges, which include:
Traditional Dental Bridges
Traditional dental bridges involve creating a dental crown on both sides with a pontic in the middle. Your dentist might recommend a traditional dental bridge if you have natural teeth on both sides of the gap. The material that makes a conventional dental bridge can be ceramic or porcelain fused to metal.
Cantilever Dental Bridges
A cantilever dental bridge utilizes a dental crown, pontic, and an abutment tooth. Therefore, the dentist might recommend a cantilever bridge if you have only one adjacent natural tooth. However, your dentist might not recommend a cantilever dental bridge to replace missing teeth at the back of your mouth.
Maryland Bonded Dental Bridges
Maryland or resin-bonded dental bridges resemble conventional ones. However, the Maryland bonded dental bridges are held in place by a metal or porcelain framework. The dental framework attaches to two adjacent natural teeth to provide support to the dental bridge.
Implant-Supported Dental Bridge
An implant-supported dental bridge has two dental crowns and a pontic. To hold the dental bridge in place, your dentist inserts a dental implant into the jawbone before placing the bridge over the gumline.
Implant-supported dental implants are highly recommendable since they provide smile aesthetics and are more substantial than other types of dental bridges.
What to Expect When Getting Treatments in a Dental Bridges Clinic Near Me
When getting dental bridges in Los Angeles, CA, you might need two dental appointments.
The first dental appointment involves a consultation. During the consultation, your dentist will check your teeth and jaw to ensure a dental bridge is the right tooth restoration for you. In case you are not eligible for a dental bridge, the dentist might recommend another tooth replacement option, such as implants or dentures.
Next, the dentist will prepare your adjacent natural teeth to support the dental bridge. When preparing the abutment, the dentist will remove a portion of your enamel for the placement of the dental crowns near me.
After preparing the abutments, your dentist will take impressions of your teeth to create a permanent dental bridge. Meanwhile, your dentist will place a temporary dental bridge to close the gap.
The permanent dental bridge might take two weeks to arrive from the dental lab. Therefore, the dentist will schedule the second appointment. During the second appointment, the dentist will remove the temporary dental bridge and replace it with a permanent one.
How Long Do Dental Bridges Last?
If well taken care of, dental bridges can last up to 15 years. Therefore, you should follow the aftercare tips your dentist gives, such as good oral hygiene.
What Is the Success Rate for Dental Bridges?
The success rate of dental bridges is very high. Problems associated with dental bridges are rare. However, you might experience some issues after getting dental bridges. Some of the common problems associated with dental bridges include:
- The detachment of the dental bridge, especially after biting down on a hard object
- Pain or discomfort during the first days after getting the dental bridges
- Chipping of the porcelain restorations
Dentist Near Me
Do you need dental bridges in a dental clinic near you? You can consider vising our dentist 90027 at ROSEMARIE QUIMSON-CRUZ, DMD, INC for treatment. Our team has years of experience providing dental care services. Therefore, you can expect quality services. Avoid suffering the agony of missing teeth and get dental bridges at the dental clinic near you.