Dental Bridges: What Are They, How Are They Fixed, and Aftercare

Having missing teeth is no way to live. You will have to deal with shifty teeth, poor dental aesthetics, chewing difficulties, and so on. However, one of the quickest ways to turn the clock back on your smile is by undergoing the dental bridge treatment procedure.

Dental bridges are an excellent alternative to partial dentures, especially if you don’t fancy the idea of removing your dentures every night. The beauty of getting a bridge for a missing tooth is that it is a permanent solution.

Without further ado, let’s see why you should seek dental bridges dentistry.

It’s About Bridging the Gap

Just as the name suggests, a tooth bridge is designed to cover or bridge the gap where your missing tooth had occupied. They have evolved throughout the years, and we have four different types that are designed to replace a tooth or several missing teeth. Dental bridges can serve both functional and aesthetic purposes.

For a dental bridge to restore your smile, it is created to have a false tooth, commonly referred to as pontic in dental terms. Then, two crowns are attached to the pontic, one on either side. The crowns hold the pontic in place. However, for a bridge to be a permanent tooth replacement, it has to be bonded to your natural teeth adjacent to the empty socket.

Imagine your natural teeth as the anchors that hold the bridge in place. In dental terms, your teeth that are used as anchors are referred to as abutment teeth. The only downside is that the natural teeth have to be prepared to accommodate the crowns. In other words, our dentist has to file down some of the enamel, making the process irreversible.

Are You Eligible?

Even though dental bridges are excellent tooth replacements, not everyone can be a good candidate for a bridge. Here’s what makes you a good candidate:

• Having overall good health (you don’t have severe infections or severe health conditions).
• Missing one or several permanent teeth.
• Performing good oral hygiene necessary to maintain the dental bridge.
• Have good oral health.
• Have sturdy and healthy adjacent teeth to support the dental bridge.

How Are Dental Bridges Placed?

The dental bridge treatment procedure is a painless and straightforward affair. However, you may have to visit our bridges dental practice at least twice for you to get your new pearly whites.

The procedure is as follows:

• First, our dentist will commence the procedure by preparing the abutment teeth by reshaping them to allow room for the dental bridge.
• Next, the impressions of your teeth will be made, and then our dentist will send them to the lab to be used to create a customized dental bridge to ensure that it is a proper fit.
• Then, the abutment teeth will be fitted with temporary crowns to prevent damage or sensitivity while you are waiting for your bridge.
• You may need to come a couple of times to check your bite and to see if the bridge fits.
• Then, the temporary crowns will be removed, and the bridge will be cemented in place.

Recovery

After the dental bridge treatment procedure, you can expect to experience some sensitivity in the abutment teeth a few days after the appointment. You will also need some time to get used to chewing and speaking with your new set of teeth.

How Do You Care for Dental Bridges?

Having dental bridges is no different from your natural teeth. However, you will need to care for them to serve you as long as they can, which is usually 15 years or much longer. Check out how you can adequately care for them:

• Brush your pearly whites at least twice every day after meals for no less than two minutes. Ensure that you brush around the dental bridge.
• Floss at least once each day between the bridge and gums to eliminate bacteria that can cause gum disease.
• You can invest in an excellent antimicrobial mouthwash to help kill bacteria surrounding the bridge.
• Check your diet and ensure that you avoid eating sticky or chewy food, hard candy, popcorn, etc., that can cause problems for your abutment teeth or bridge.
• Don’t forget to come in for regular checkups after every three months.

Contact our dentist at Andover Cosmetic Dental Group if you need a dental bridge.