Dentistry has come a long way in the last 50 years. Gone are the days of ill-fitting dentures and other treatment options that didn’t offer ideal outcomes. These days, dental providers have a whole tool box of tricks that can help to restore your smile like dental bridges.
What to know about dental bridges
A dentist will use dental bridges to replace missing teeth that create a gap in your teeth. Most often, the bridge will start with a crown on a tooth, and end the same way. The two crowns will cement the bridge in place. The artificial tooth or teeth will exist in between the crowns and create a bridge where the missing teeth would be.
Who needs dental bridges?
When you have a missing tooth or teeth, the impact can be felt in other parts of your mouth. It can cause bite problems and even difficulty chewing. It also puts extra pressure on the rest of your teeth and jaw. And, missing teeth can make you feel self conscious. All of the above are good reasons to consider a dental bridge.
Types of dental bridges
There are a few different types of dental bridges commonly used. The traditional fixed bridge is among the most common and is made with porcelain or ceramic and metal as described above. The cantilever bridge is a type of bridge that only connects to one tooth that is still in place inside of your mouth. A resin-bonded bridge is used to replace missing front teeth with wings on each side to connect them to existing teeth on both sides. And finally, an implant supported bridge uses an implanted tooth to anchor the bridge either on one end using a cantilever bridge, or both using a traditional fixed bridge.
Options instead of a bridge
A bridge is a smart, cost effective way to address missing teeth. There are other ways to achieve the same look. The least expensive is dentures and you can discuss that option with your dental care provider. The more expensive option that delivers the most natural look, is dental implants.