Dental bridges help fill up the spaces left behind by missing teeth. The bridge renovates the appearance and functionality of teeth. False or artificial teeth mounted on the bridge are used for this purpose. Conditions like tooth decay, injury, gum diseases (gingivitis), congenital diseases, etc. can create a need for a dental bridge.
The dental bridge is composed of 3 parts: abutment, crown, and a pontic. Sometimes dentures or dental implants may also be preferred over a bridge. Your dentist can help you figure out the best option. If enclosing teeth are not available for support, a dental implant is suggested.
Here is how the functionality is restored when using a dental bridge:
Helps in restoring proper bite
Due to missing teeth, it becomes hard to chew and bite. Hard food items pretty much become impossible to eat and chewing creates a lot of pain. Patients are sometimes even forced to give up certain foods because of the inconvenience. Even if patients are eating a wholesome diet, they have to bite a certain way, adjusting the way teeth fall on the food so that there is minimal pain. Bridges help bite functioning return to its normal, painless state.
Prevents other teeth from moving
Loss of one or more teeth affects the whole alignment of teeth. Sometimes, the teeth surrounding the lost tooth also start shifting. The bridge helps in replenishing the gap and help in alignment. By filling the gap with an artificial tooth, the surrounding teeth are also secured and stop moving.
Restores the ability to speak neatly
Missing teeth can make it harder to speak. The gaps made by them make it very hard to pronounce certain words clearly. When the alignment is completed by inserting an artificial tooth, speech becomes understandable and clear.
Restores smile
Unfortunately, sometimes it happens that the missing tooth affects our smile and makes us self-conscious. Dental bridges help build your smile back. The missing tooth no longer mars your smile.
What does the dental bridge procedure look like?
Approximately 2 appointments are required for the completion of this procedure. An X-ray may be taken first. During the 1st appointment, the 2 surrounding teeth are filed down. A mould will be made by observing the gap made by the missing tooth. Then according to this mould, a long-lasting and permanent dental bridge is readied. Until then, a temporary bridge is placed. On the next appointment, the permanent bridge is fixed in the place of the missing tooth. Dental cement helps attach the tooth to the two enclosing teeth.
Types of dental bridges available
The following are a few different types of dental bridges that are available.
Fixed bridge
These are the traditional sort of bridges. It is also the most broadly used one. A filler tooth/teeth and two crowns are used. The crowns at either end help keep the bridges in place. Traditional bridges of today are made of either metal, porcelain (fused with metal), or plain ceramic. This type of bridge can only be used when supporting teeth are available on either side of the missing tooth. Both these teeth have to be readied first. They are filed and reshaped. Crowns are placed over these teeth. It ensures the teeth are strong enough to bear the weight of the bridge.
Cantilever bridge
In this type of bridge, the pontic is connected to only one abutment tooth. People who have teeth on only one side of the gap may be suitable candidates for this bridge. This kind of bridge can also be used when there are no supporting teeth on either side. It can also destabilize the teeth, so their placement must be carefully planned.
Resin-bonded bridge
They are also known as Maryland bonded bridges. This kind of bridge is helpful when you have a missing front tooth. It is made out of porcelain (metal fused) or it is ceramic. It is supported by a framework. There are also wings on either side of the bridge which bond to an existing tooth. It is the more conservative kind. No reshaping is required for the enclosing teeth. The metal wings fit behind your abutment teeth.
Implant supported
This kind of bridge is very similar to the traditional kind. The difference is that an implant is used to hold the bridge in place. Conventional fixed bridge uses dental cement for the same.
Benefits and risks of dental bridges
The above are all the major positive functional benefits of using dental bridges. However, there are also aesthetic benefits as well. Since the artificial teeth match the colour of the natural teeth, it can make up for the loss of the natural teeth. Patients often report feeling a boost in their self-esteem due to the enhanced appearance of their teeth.
Dental bridges can also help with the structure of the mouth in the long term. The shift in teeth due to the gap is fixed. The risk of teeth movement is minimized. Bone loss risk is also reduced, thus enhancing the facial structure.
Bridges are easy to maintain. They can be cleaned easily just by brushing. There is no need to remove them every day for cleaning. As previously mentioned, the mastication or chewing of food also becomes easier and painless.
If the dental bridge is ill-fitting, there are high chances of tooth decay. Also, the natural surrounding teeth are not completely unaffected from the procedure. They have to be modified as well so that appliances can fit easily. There is also a risk of the whole bridge structure collapsing if the surrounding teeth are not strong enough. Bridges may have to be replaced if they are fitted for the long term.
Bridges require great aftercare. Your dentist will explain you how to properly take care of the bridges so that last for a long time. It is said that, with proper care, dental bridges can last up to 10 years! The normal life span for bridges is 5 to 7 years. It also greatly depends on how well you take care of it. Better oral health is guaranteed after proper care.
