Blog
17 Jan 2023
When Does a Dentist Recommend a Dental Bridge: Beginner’s Guide
If you have one or more missing teeth, your dentist may fill the gap using a dental bridge. It is an artificial tooth (called a pontic) that is anchored into place using each adjacent tooth on the side of the gap. The procedure is quick and takes only two dental appointments, making it a highly convenient tooth replacement choice.
There are several reasons why a dentist may recommend a bridge as the best option. This article discusses it in detail.
When are Dental Bridges Recommended?
Your dentist may recommend a dental bridge when you have one or more missing teeth due to gum disease, severe decay, or mouth injury. The missing teeth may also be due to a genetic condition.
It is essential to have healthy teeth on either side of the gap to get a dental bridge. Here are some situations when this might be the right solution for you.
Health Condition
Your health is crucial in determining a suitable treatment for your missing teeth. Here are some of the medical conditions when your dentist may recommend a dental bridge:
- Cancer
- Diabetes
- Auto-immune disease
- Low jawbone density
Convenient and Quick Procedure
Bridges are the best option for those who want a fast, reliable and less invasive replacement for their missing teeth. The procedure restores your aesthetically pleasing smile in two appointments, unlike dental implants, which take a minimum of two months to restore your natural smile. It involves integrating false tooth roots into the jawbone using a surgical procedure.
Number and Location of Missing Teeth
If you have no more than three teeth missing in a row, the dentist might suggest getting a crown. For a dental bridge, you must have strong teeth on either side of the space for adequate support. In addition, the bridges are usually preferred for the front row of teeth as they can withstand the force of biting and chewing and will never slip out of place.
How Do Dental Crowns Work with Dental Bridges?
Crowns are an essential part of the dental bridge procedure. A bridge consists of two crowns attached to the teeth on either side of the gap (abutment teeth) and supports the pontics, filling the gap.
During your first appointment, the abutment teeth are trimmed to make room for the bridges. Then impressions and moulds are taken of your teeth to build a custom bridge with crowns that perfectly fit your trimmed teeth and are attached using dental cement.
Pain After the Procedure
As local anesthetic is used before the procedure, you should not feel the pain. But you will need to keep your mouth open for a few hours, which may make you feel discomfort and soreness in your jaw. Over-the-counter pain relievers will usually take care of it, and placing an ice pack outside your jaw will also help.
Recovery
A major advantage of a dental bridge is that it requires minimal recovery. You can normally eat soon after the bridge placement, and most patients do not experience any trouble adapting to the bridge.
Why Choose a Dental Bridge Over a Partial Denture?
Partial dentures are removable, whereas bridges are fixed into place as a permanent replacement for natural teeth. Here are some of the benefits of bridges:
- Easier to care
- Will never slip or move when eating or speaking
- Last longer
- Look and feel more natural
- Better long-term investment
How Will I Know If My Dental Bridge Needs a Repair or Replacement?
Dental bridges are a long-term solution, and they can stay in place without any problem for 5 to 15 years. A few factors can reduce the comfort and effectiveness, which include:
- Lack of proper dental care (daily flossing and brushing)
- Habit of grinding your teeth or clenching your jaw
- Changes to the abutment teeth
You must contact your dentist as soon as you experience:
- Loose bridge
- A crack or chip
- Sensitivity when eating, drinking, or brushing teeth
- Food getting trapped in or under your bridge
Your dental care specialist will assess the issue and recommend a plan of action. It generally involves just an adjustment or minor repair. If the bridge is broken or has a problem with the abutment teeth, you may have to replace it with a new one. It is crucial to visit your dentist to prevent the problem from worsening.
Experience the Best Dental Service in Mississauga
Trillium Smile Dentistry provides a full range of dental care services with the primary objective of helping patients preserve their oral health, teeth longevity, and naturally pleasing smile. If you are searching for an expert dental bridge service or “cosmetic dental crowns near me,” Trillium Smile Dentistry is the place to go. When you visit our clinic, we will walk you through the process to put you at ease. You can rest assured that our expert dentists will deliver transformational smile makeovers.
Contact us today to learn more about our dental care services or to book an appointment. We will be glad to answer any queries you may have.
05 Aug 2022
A Complete Guide to Dental Bridges
Tooth loss is an extremely common dental problem for Canadians, especially older individuals. Unfortunately, this loss can lead to many other problems, including difficulty speaking and eating as well as low self-esteem.
A dental bridge is a versatile, visually impressive, and cost-effective solution for replacing one or more missing teeth. Our guide to dental bridges will tell you everything you need to know, including whether you might benefit from getting one.
What Is a Dental Bridge?
Dental bridges are dental prostheses that are used to disguise missing teeth in a person’s mouth.
Dental bridges look like small rows of false teeth. They may be made from porcelain, ceramic fused to metal, or other materials. The teeth on each end of the row are hollow and resemble dental crowns. These false teeth are called retainers and are fitted over your natural teeth to keep the bridge in place. The teeth they are fitted to are called abutment teeth.
The teeth in between the retainers are solid and do not connect to the teeth or gums below them. These teeth are called pontics. Depending on your needs, there may be just one false tooth on your bridge’s pontic or many.
What Do Dental Bridges Look Like?
A permanent dental bridge is almost indistinguishable from the teeth around it. It should fit into your natural alignment and look just like the teeth it has covered and replaced, matching their colour, shape, and other attributes.
Most people will never know that a bridge is not a real row of teeth unless you tell them. You can smile with confidence and trust your bridge to help you make a winning first impression.
When Is a Dental Bridge Necessary?
Dental bridges are never necessary, but they can significantly improve a person’s quality of life. Using them to replace lost teeth allows you to speak and chew the way you did before those teeth were missing. They may also boost your self-confidence and help you feel at ease when smiling and laughing.
Bridges are particularly recommended for people who are not good candidates for implants due to gum disease, bone loss, and other problems. A bridge helps these people regain some lost aesthetics and function without compromising their dental or overall health.
Your dentist may also recommend a bridge if you have teeth on either side of your missing tooth that would benefit from being crowned. By choosing a bridge, you can protect those weaker teeth while also replacing the missing one.
4 Dental Bridge Types
When looking to get a bridge, there are four main types.
- Traditional Bridges. Traditional bridges are the most common type of bridges. They use two retainers and two abutment teeth to keep the pontic stable and provide superior aesthetics.
- Maryland Bridges. Maryland bridges are a simpler version of conventional bridges. Instead of attaching to your teeth using cemented retainers, they are anchored by wings attached to the pontic. Maryland bridges are simple and inexpensive, but they are not strong. They are usually only used for front teeth that will not have to bear much biting stress.
- Cantilever Bridges. Cantilever bridges closely resemble traditional bridges, but they have only one anchor tooth instead of two. This design allows you to preserve more tooth structure overall, but it is less stable than a traditional bridge. This is why cantilever bridges are rarely used today.
- Implant-Supported Bridges. Implant-supported bridges are a new type of bridge that significantly deviates from the traditional design. Instead of anchoring the pontic to abutment teeth, this type of bridge is anchored by two implants on either side of the bridge. Implant-supported bridges offer the best support, but they are also the most expensive and invasive bridge options.
Procedure for Dental Bridges
Getting a dental bridge often involves two steps.
- Tooth Preparation and Temporary Bridge Placement. Your dentist will prepare the abutment teeth. They will remove some of the enamel from the outside of these teeth to make room for the prosthesis that will fit over them. When this is done, your dentist will take an impression of your abutment teeth and send this to a lab to have the final prosthetic made. In the meantime, they will place a temporary bridge over your teeth to keep them safe.
- Permanent Bridge Placement. When your bridge is ready, your temporary bridge will be removed and the new one will be cemented in place. Your bite and alignment will be checked before finalizing the process. Once this is done, the bridge cannot be removed without special dental tools. It will remain in place until it needs to be replaced in a few years’ time.
The procedure for implant-supported bridges is a bit different. Instead of getting your teeth prepared for placement, you will need to undergo implant placement surgery. Once your new implants have healed, your bridge can be attached to the screws. This process usually takes a few months from start to finish.
How to Care for a Dental Bridge
You can avoid dental bridge problems by:
- Practicing Good Oral Hygiene. Practice good oral hygiene after receiving your bridge. Brush twice a day, floss once a day, and use a fluoride mouthwash periodically.
- Getting Regular Maintenance. See your dentist for a cleaning and checkup every 6 months and have them examine your dental bridge. They will let you know if your bridge is showing signs of wear or may have tooth decay forming beneath it.
- Eating with Care. Avoid chewing hard or sticky foods on the side of your mouth where your bridge is located. Try not to bite down too hard on that side whenever possible.
Dental Bridge vs. Implant: Which is Best?
Dental bridges and implants are both possible options for replacing a missing tooth. Which is better? This depends on your needs.
Implant Benefits
- Implants are anchored directly into your jaw, making them feel and function almost exactly the same as real teeth.
- Implants simulate the look of natural teeth almost perfectly. They are considered the best dental prosthetics for aesthetic purposes.
Implant Drawbacks
- Implants can be expensive, often costing thousands of dollars apiece.
- Severe bone loss or gum disease may mean you are not a good candidate for this treatment option.
Dental Bridge Benefits
- Dental bridges restore functions like the ability to eat and speak without difficulty.
- Dental bridges erase gaps in smiles and restore your smile aesthetics.
- Bridges are less expensive than implants.
- Most people are good candidates for dental bridges.
Dental Bridge Drawbacks
- Placing a bridge requires large amounts of tooth structure to be removed from your teeth.
- You may develop further tooth decay in the treated tooth.
- The bridge will eventually fail and need to be replaced.
How Much Does a Dental Bridge Cost?
Dental bridge costs vary depending on your dentist, the materials used, and the type of bridge you select. Maryland bridges are typically the most affordable, while implant-supported bridges are the most expensive. Ask your dentist about the different dental bridges and how much each option might cost you. They will be happy to help you fit the cost of this treatment into your budget.
Get High-Quality, Long-Lasting Dental Bridges
If you are interested in replacing one or more missing teeth, Trillium Smile Dentistry can help. Let our experienced team install a beautiful new dental bridge or implants that will restore your dental functions and your confidence. Contact us today at 905-828-9894 or online to request your first appointment and get the process started.