The dental formula plays a significant role in your facial appearance and mouth functionality. Problems such as missing teeth – partial edentulism, may affect how you eat, speak, and your general outlook. Tooth loss may result from old age, medications, severe tooth decay, trauma, and periodontal disease. Thanks to Roslyn dental restorations, you can now restore missing teeth using dental bridges.
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What are dental bridges, and why are they important?
These are custom-made restorations that mimic the look and function of natural teeth used to replace missing teeth. However, this is not suitable for full mouth rehabilitation. In a case where you have a lot of missing teeth, your dentist may recommend dentures instead.
Benefits of dental bridges
- Teeth are functional organs in your body but may play an aesthetic role as well. Dental problems such as discolored, chipped, and irregularly shaped teeth may be unsightly and lower your self-image. A dental bridge may help replace teeth with these significant defects and boost your self-confidence.
- Dental bridges help maintain the shape of your face as they prevent the movement of your natural teeth out of place, which may alter your jaw and facial contour.
- Dental bridges facilitate even distribution of forces in bites which helps maintain other healthy teeth and prevent further complications.
- Gaps in your teeth may affect your speech. Fortunately, dental bridges fill those gaps and improve how you speak. Unfortunately, people with missing teeth may also experience difficulties chewing, limiting the type of foods one may eat. With implant-supported bridges, you can chew properly and eat hard foods.
Types of dental bridges
Traditional bridges
These are the most common dental bridges used to restore posterior teeth, such as premolars and molars. It is suitable for patients who have natural teeth on each side of the gap. Traditional bridges contain a pontic or a fake tooth that a crown holds in place on each side. These bridges are strong and may last a long time with proper care. However, getting this type of bridge involves enamel removal, which is irreversible and may result in tooth sensitivity.
Cantilever bridges
This type of dental bridge is used on front teeth as it is not strong enough to support back teeth. Similar to traditional bridges, these are also made from porcelain fused to metal. Your dentist may use this type of bridge only if you have one natural tooth next to the missing tooth.
Adhesive bridges
Adhesive or Maryland bridges are an excellent choice for patients with less tooth structure. Compared to traditional and cantilever bridges, this type requires less enamel removal. Your dentist may use this type of bride to replace your front teeth (incisors). A significant downside is that Maryland bridges are not strong and may shift or loosen easily.
Implant-supported bridges
These are ideal for patients with at least three missing teeth in a row. Implant-supported bridges use dental implants in place of dental crowns or frameworks. These bridges require a surgical procedure for installation and are considered the strongest and most stable system.
To learn more about other dental restorations and what to expect during the procedure, consult your specialist at ToothDocs today.