Dental Bridges FAQ
Ritter and Ramsey General and Cosmetic Dentistry service Jupiter, Palm Beach Gardens, and all of Palm Beach County, Florida.
Having missing teeth in your mouth not only affect the overall aesthetics of your smile, but they also pose health risks for your teeth and jaw bone. It is highly recommended among dental professionals to replace missing or extracted teeth. One of the popular ways to replace one or more missing teeth is by the use of a dental bridge.
A dental bridge is used to fill in the gap(s) caused by missing teeth. A bridge uses the neighboring teeth as anchors to hold the replacement tooth in the center using dental crowns. This tooth replacement option does not go below the gum line, therefore it does not replace a missing tooth root.
The dental crowns are typically fitted over the adjacent teeth that are next to the missing space or spaces. The adjacent teeth generally are prepped to receive the dental crowns just as a traditional crown procedure. The teeth will be trimmed down and contoured to allow enough space for the crowns to fit over. If the teeth are left un-trimmed, these teeth will appear much bulkier than the surrounding teeth, which will make them look unnatural.
Both dental bridges and dental crowns are permanent prosthetic tooth restorations that are used to replace the missing tooth (or teeth). These restorations are fixed in the empty spaces of the jaw to improve the dentition of the patient. Contrary to dentures, dental bridges are fixed permanently into the patient's teeth and can only be removed or adjusted by a dental professional.
What Can Dental Bridges Do For Me?
Dental bridges are often recommended for patients who are missing one or more teeth. Bridges not only "bridge the gap"; between teeth, but they also:
- Ensure the surrounding teeth don't shift into the missing space
- Repair the overall aesthetics of your smile
- Prevent any form of gum disease from arising
- Evenly distributes bite pressure to stop the deterioration of the jaw bone below
Dental bridges are created custom tailored to every patient. No smile is the same, so every permanent dental bridge is made to fit the patient's smile from the material, size, shape, and even color of the teeth are matched with the natural teeth.
The dental crowns that are adjusted to the neighboring teeth act as anchors that hold onto the replacement tooth in the center. Other bridges can replace a tooth that only has one adjacent tooth to use as an anchor. Other dental bridge options, such as the Maryland bridge, make use of metal wings that are bonded to the replacement tooth in the center. This option is not as strong as the traditional version, however, it does eliminate the need to "prep" the adjacent teeth as no dental crowns will be
used.
Dental bridges can last upwards of 10+ years. To improve the longevity of your restoration, proper care should be maintained on the artificial teeth and your natural teeth alike. Brushing teeth twice a day and flossing at least once will maintain the strength and aesthetics of your teeth. Regular checkups with a dentist every 6 months will also add to this maintenance as well as preventing any forms of gum disease.
Talk to your dentist about how dental bridges could be the right option for you and your smile!
Ritter and Ramsey team to provide the best in cosmetic and general dentistry procedures for you and your entire family, including dental bridges. Experience the difference, consult with Ritter and Ramsey today.
Interesting in reading more about dental bridges? Read here for more information about the dental bridge procedure.