A Guide To Dental Bridges
Your dentist may recommend a bridge for various problems with missing or damaged teeth. Here is what you need to know about this dental procedure.
Uses for Dental Bridges
A dental bridge may help you to solve many different dental issues. Some people choose a bridge for cosmetic reasons, since they can fill in gaps in your mouth and restore an uneven smile. When there are many teeth missing on one side, it can affect the appearance of your cheeks; a bridge will help give more structure to your face in these cases.
The bridge can also be a tool for those who have trouble chewing. With missing teeth, you may experience pain while chewing because the pressure is not evenly distributed. A bridge will give you a better surface for chewing and speaking. Finally, a dental bridge can act as a placeholder to keep your other teeth from shifting out of place.
Dental Bridge Composition
Your dental bridge will be made up of a set of porcelain crowns and false teeth. The crowns go over the top of the teeth that are adjacent to your bridge, and they act as an anchor point for the replacement teeth. The false teeth are called abutments, and they can be made of many different materials, including gold and porcelain.
Pros and Cons of a Dental Bridge
A dental bridge can be one of the best quick fixes for missing teeth. It generally takes about two visits to put a bridge in place, which can save you time and money over other choices like dental implants. Bridges can also last for over a decade if they are taken care of correctly.
Some patients wonder if a dental bridge will damage their surrounding teeth. A bridge can place some strain on the teeth, since they will need to be reshaped in order to put the bridge in place. However, if cost and time are an issue for you, then dental bridges are a great option for replacing teeth. And if you protect your bridge by avoiding chewing on tough materials and wearing protective gear during contact sports, then you can keep your bridge intact for a long time and avoid strain on your teeth.
Getting a dental bridge can improve your cosmetic dental appearance or provide needed support for gaps in your smile. A dentist, such as James L Rutledge DDS, MAGD, can help you decide whether bridges are the best option for your dental issues.