A dental bridge is a fixed appliance that can replace missing teeth and help restore chewing and speaking function. It can also prevent adjacent teeth from shifting into the gap left by a missing tooth or teeth.
The type of bridge you get will depend on your needs and budget. Each type of bridge has its own advantages and disadvantages.
Replacement for Missing Teeth
Tooth loss negatively impacts the health and appearance of your smile. Luckily, there are many restorative treatments to replace missing teeth and prevent their adverse consequences. One of these is a dental bridges Winchester KY.
A dental bridge is a set of two or more artificial teeth that attach to healthy natural teeth on either side. The anchoring teeth are called abutment teeth, and the false tooth or teeth in between are called pontic teeth. The crowns that encase the pontic teeth are typically made from porcelain or ceramic, which means that the bridge will blend in with your smile.
The procedure for getting a dental bridge takes at least two appointments to complete. At the first appointment, the anchoring teeth are prepared by removing a small portion of enamel and dentin. This is necessary to ensure that the resulting bridge will fit correctly and not cause any issues with bite or alignment. Then a highly accurate mold of the area is taken and sent to a lab for fabrication.
Prevents Other Teeth from Shifting
Missing teeth can leave gaps in your smile that detract from your appearance and even cause problems with chewing, which can affect your oral health. Dental bridges can help prevent these problems by filling in the gap and ensuring that your remaining teeth remain aligned.
Your dentist can construct these devices out of a variety of materials, including porcelain, zirconium, and composites. Generally, they will require anchors on either side of the gap (known as abutment teeth) to support and hold the dental bridges Winchester KY in place. These teeth will need to be healthy and free of decay or damage to ensure that the bridge remains stable.
Your dentist will prepare the abutment teeth by filing them down and taking impressions to create a custom bridge. Once it is ready, your dentist will fix the bridge in place using dental cement. With careful attention to cleaning and routine visits to the hygienist, these restorations can last up to 15 years.
Improves Bite
Missing teeth change the balance and structure of your smile. They can also compromise your dental health and lead to other problems, such as shrinkage of the jaw bone. This can cause the remaining teeth to shift, changing the bite and causing a more aged look. Bridges prevent this by filling the gap and preventing other teeth from shifting into the gap.
Unlike partial dentures, which can be removed, dental bridges are cemented into place. This makes them a more permanent solution that can be used to repair the appearance, shape and alignment of your smile as well as restore function and dental occlusion (bite).
Traditional dental bridges consist of crowns placed on healthy teeth on either side of the gap (these anchoring teeth are known as abutment teeth) with a false tooth or teeth in between called pontics. The abutment and pontic teeth are fabricated from gold, alloys, porcelain or a combination of materials.
Enhances Appearance
A missing tooth creates a gap in your smile that can be difficult to conceal with a partial denture. However, a dental bridge provides a permanent solution that enhances the appearance of your smile. It is made up of replacement crowns for the teeth on either side of the missing tooth (abutment teeth), and a false tooth or teeth in between called pontic.
Our dentists use dental crowns to complete root canal treatments, cap dental implants, and anchor a dental bridge. They are also used to enhance the appearance of a damaged or decayed tooth. During your first appointment, our dentists will prepare the abutment teeth by paring down their enamel and dentin. Next, an impression is taken that serves as the model from which your bridge and pontic will be fabricated in a laboratory.
While the attachment procedure takes two to three visits, you can chew normally in the interim. In addition, sensitivity to hot or cold usually resolves after your fixed bridge is cemented.
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