The empty space left by a missing tooth can cause all kinds of problems, from hurting your confidence to throwing off the balance of your bite. In many cases, all it takes to fill the gap is an expertly made, carefully placed dental bridge that has been customized according to the needs of your smile. You can find out whether a dental bridge is right for you by calling our office to schedule a consultation with Dr. Mick.
A dental bridge does what its name suggests: it “bridges” the gaps in your smile in order to replace one or more missing teeth. To create a dental bridge, a pair of dental crowns are combined with at least one artificial tooth known as a pontic. The crowns will be attached to your natural teeth or dental implants so that the pontic(s) can fill the space between them. The materials used to make dental bridges closely resemble natural tooth enamel.
Dental bridges fall into one of two categories: traditional bridges and implant bridges. While both options certainly have their benefits, one might be a better fit for your smile than the other. We can help you decide which type of bridge you should get when you visit our office for a consultation. Here is a bit more about both types of bridges.
A traditional bridge is attached to the natural teeth that are adjacent to the empty space in your smile. You can get this type of bridge if you have lost at least one tooth. Remember, for a traditional dental bridge to be placed, the teeth that will support it need to be in good shape.
A dental implant is a post that is inserted into your jaw so that it can act as an artificial tooth root. Two dental implants are enough to support a dental bridge in order to replace three or more teeth in a row. One of the advantages of getting an implant bridge is that it doesn’t involve making any alterations to the teeth that you still have.
Replacing your missing teeth with a dental bridge has obvious immediate benefits, such as once again having a complete smile to speak and chew with. Additionally, the bridge will help you avoid dental alignment issues in the future by preventing your remaining teeth from drifting out of place. You are likely to feel more confident as well since dental bridges tend to match the appearance of natural teeth.
Dental bridges can potentially last as long as 15 years as long as they receive proper maintenance. Luckily, taking care of a dental bridge is quite easy since you can brush it as you would the rest of your smile.