Is your missing teeth making you self-conscious? We’re not only talking about aesthetics here but also its impact to your ability to properly chew and speak well.
If this is ignored for a long time, the space left by the missing teeth can cause the adjacent teeth to slide towards the space. This can lead to a bite misalignment and consequently cause issues with your TMJ or jaw joint.
So what exactly are dental bridges?
Dental bridges are used to replace missing teeth. Unlike dentures, bridges are fixed and cemented implants that could be attached to supporting teeth (on the side of the missing tooth) or resin-bonded to adjacent teeth.
The false teeth, or pontics, are made from porcelain fused to metal or ceramics. Alloy, gold, or a metal combination can be used but the more precious the metal is, the better the bridge fits. This is why gold is the most commonly used for bridges.
Here at Lembo-Montgomery, patients can choose from three types of bridges:
- Traditional bridges: Pontic are connected to crowns and these crowns are inserted to the supporting teeth
- Cantilever bridges: used when missing tooth only has one adjacent tooth
- Maryland bonded bridges: the pontic is resin-bonded to adjacent supporting teeth without the need for crowns
THE PROCEDURE
It will take approximately 2 visits before patients can get their permanent bridge. Here we’ll discuss what happens on dental visits when you’re getting a traditional bridge:
On your first visit:
- Your dentist will administer a local anesthetic before working on the supporting teeth. Your supporting teeth will then be reduced in size and reshaped to create room for crown installation. The crowns inserted on the supporting teeth will be the bridge holders.
- Next, your dentist will get an impression of your supporting teeth including the space for the missing teeth. This will then be taken to the dental laboratory for proper fitting of the bridge.
- Once done, your dentist will insert a temporary bridge.
On your next visit:
- Your dentist will insert the permanent bridge, adjust, and check it for proper fit and comfort.
- If it fits well, your dentist will finally cement the bridge in place. There are cases when the bridge won’t fit well on the first try. Your dentist will need to get a new measurement and take this back to the lab again to reform.
WHAT TO EXPECT
Once you get your new bridge fixed in place, expect some discomfort in the first couple of days as your mouth and gums get used to the bridge. Some patients also report experiencing mild pain when biting and gum and teeth sensitivity for a couple of days.
How long a bridge will last depends on your oral hygiene, diet, and the material used. Take note that the bridge also depends on the health of your supporting teeth so it is important to maintain an overall good health of your gums and teeth.
If you want to learn more about dental bridges, we recommend that you watch this video.
For more information about dental bridges and to schedule an appointment at our office, call our Mooresville Dentist office at (704) 746-3435.