Tooth loss can significantly impact both your appearance and oral health. Missing teeth create gaps that affect chewing and speaking and can change the alignment of remaining teeth. A dental bridge offers an effective solution to these problems.
Dr. Albert Caves offers several types of dental bridges to restore patient’s smiles. He will help you decide what type of dental bridge is best for your oral health. We will provide you with a dental bridge in Columbus, GA to help restore the function and appearance of your smile. Dental Bridge procedures are just one of the restorative dentistry treatments we offer at our dentist office in Columbus.
What is a Dental Bridge?
A dental bridge is a vital dental treatment we offer that fills the gap left by missing teeth. They consist of two or more crowns that will anchor to adjacent teeth or dental implants. The crown portion of the bridge will support the false tooth or teeth in between, called pontics. Dental bridges provide a seamless look and feel. They mimic the appearance of natural teeth.
About Dental Bridges in Columbus, GA
A dental bridge is a dental device that fills a space that a tooth previously occupied. Dental bridges offer numerous benefits that can significantly improve your oral health and quality of life. Here are some of the key advantages:
- Restores Your Smile: A dental bridge fills in the space left by a missing tooth, restoring the natural appearance of your smile and boosting your self-confidence.
- Improves Chewing and Speech: With a dental bridge, you can chew food more efficiently and speak clearly without the difficulty caused by missing teeth.
- Maintains Facial Structure: Missing teeth can cause the jawbone to deteriorate, leading to a sunken facial appearance. A dental bridge will help hold the natural shape of your face and may prevent bone loss.
- Prevents Teeth From Shifting: When you replace your teeth with a bridge, it will prevent teeth from shifting. If you teeth are out of alignment, it can lead to gum disease, instability in the occlusion (bite) and/or jaw problems.
- Distributes Bite Force Evenly: By filling the gap, a dental bridge ensures that the bite force is distributed evenly across your teeth, preventing excessive wear and tear on the remaining natural teeth.
- Durable and Long-Lasting: With proper care and maintenance, your bridge can last for many years. It offers a long-term solution for missing teeth.
Types of Dental Bridges
We offer a few types of dental bridges at our Dallas, Texas dental office. Each one has its advantages and limitations. The best option for you will depend on location of your missing tooth or teeth, how healthy your adjacent teeth are, and our dentist’s recommendation.
Traditional Fixed Bridge
A traditional dental bridge consists of one or more artificial teeth (pontics) held in place by dental crowns that are cemented onto the natural teeth on either side of the gap. This type of bridge is best for people who still have healthy teeth on both sides of the missing tooth or teeth. It is the most common type of bridge because it is strong and reliable. However, it requires filing down the adjacent teeth to fit the crowns, which can compromise the health of these teeth.
Fixed Implant Supported Bridge
A Fixed Implant-Supported Bridge is a type of restoration that replaces multiple missing teeth. Your dentist will anchor a custom bridge to dental implants rather than natural teeth. The implants act as artificial teeth roots. These implants will fuse to the bone and provide the strong support for the bridge, which holds the replacement teeth. This type of bridge is stable, durable, and helps maintain jawbone health, improving both function and appearance. However, you will need surgery to get the implants placed in your jawbone.
Cantilever Bridge
A cantilever bridge looks almost like a traditional bridge but is supported by adjacent teeth one side of the gap, instead of both sides. We may choose this type of bridge for you if you only have healthy, natural teeth on one side of the gap. However, since the bridge is only attached on one side, there is an uneven distribution of pressure. This instabillity can lead to many additional complications. A typical three-unit cantilever bridge consists of two crowned teeth positioned next to each other on the same side of the missing tooth space. The prosthetic tooth is then connected to the two crowned teeth, which extend into the missing tooth space or end.
Maryland Bridge (Resin-Bonded Bridge)
A Maryland bridge uses a framework made of metal or porcelain that has bands bands. The metal bands consist of a white-colored composite resin that matches the existing tooth color. Your dentist will bond the metal bands to the backs of the adjacent teeth and hold the false tooth in place. We may suggest a Maryland bridge if you need to replace your front teeth. You use less pressure when biting or chewing on your front teeth, making this option viable. Your dentist will not need to change or alter your teeth to prepare them for this type of bridge. However, it is not as strong or durable as other types of bridges.
There is a range of materials used to make dental bridges. Whenever possible, Dr. Caves uses porcelain since it is very natural looking.
Procedure for Getting a Dental Bridge
The dental bridge procedure involves several steps across two appointments. At your first appointment, Dr. Caves will prepare the abutment teeth. It is vital to shape these teeth to fit the crowns. He will need to remove a small amount of enamel.
Next, we will take dental impressions that a dental laboratory will use to create the dental restoration. In most cases, we will place a temporary dental bridge to protect the teeth until the permanent one is ready.
Once the permanent bridge is ready, Dr. Caves will fit and adjust it. Adjustments will ensure your bridge is comfortable and functions well. We will cement the bridge in place to complete the procedure. The entire process takes at least two visits.
Contact our Columbus, Georgia dental office to learn more about dental bridges and find out if they are right for you. Call (706) 407-4851 or you can schedule a consultation online.