Dental bridges function to cover in the missing space which is created by a missing tooth or teeth. A bridge constitutes two or even more crowns. In a bridge, there exist two structures which anchor the central portion. These two are termed abutment teeth. Between them is a false tooth. This is called a pontic. The pontic can be fashioned out of gold, alloys, porcelain or even a mix of these substances. Dental bridges, for their support infrastructure, have natural teeth or dental implants.
What are the advantages of dental bridges?
Dental bridges can bring your smile back in place, just as it was before. It will also bring back your capability in chewing and smiling and speaking in a normal manner. The dental bridge helps in keeping your facial structure intact and prevents facial sagging. With this, a person bites with a proper force since it is a replacement for a missing tooth or teeth. Since it provides stability to the mouth, the teeth adjacent to the dental bridges are no more in a danger of getting dislodged or loosened.
Which are the various varieties of dental bridges?
- There are primarily three varieties of dental bridges which dentists fashion out:
Traditional bridges which are like what a bridge is. These constitute two dental abutments on either side and a pontic in between. - Cantilever bridges are utilized when there are adjoining teeth on one side of the tooth or teeth which have gone missing. Such bridges are not usually used. Also, these do not work well at the back portion of the mouth.
- Maryland bonded bridges or resin bonded bridges are made with porcelain, porcelain with metallic ingredients, or plastic teeth along with their gums which are supported by a metal or porcelain frame. In this case, metal or porcelain wings are seen on one side bonded to the natural teeth.
Which to use – a dental bridge or a dental implant?
In the case of a dental bridge, the teeth adjacent to the missing tooth or teeth have to be chiseled up and their enamel layer removed by a bit. This is to accommodate the abutments. However, when it comes to dental implants, one can replace the missing or infected tooth or teeth by itself without tampering with the rest of the teeth in the mouth. Thus the dental implant turns out to be a more durable line of treatment. Nonetheless, dental bridges work best when the adjoining tooth or teeth have had fillings done in them and may require caps or crowns in them.
How does one take care of dental bridges?
One has to be careful while brushing when one uses dental bridges. Each bridge normally constitutes three segments, and these are cemented together. Thus, while brushing or flossing, one has to take a lot of care to not disturb this balance. In the case of implants, one need not take that much of care while doing these activities as the structure is more stable.
For details, contact: Indian Hills Dentistry, 2850 S. Church Street, Murfreesboro, TN 37127. Call: (615)236-6801.