One of the best treatments for a lost tooth is a dental bridge. Dental bridges restore the look and feel of a natural tooth that has been lost due to decay or because of an accident.
In addition to restoring the appearance of natural teeth, a dental bridge can also restore the function of natural teeth.
Dental bridges are made to be a durable, effective replacement for a lost tooth that allows the patient to regain their ability to eat, drink, and speak naturally, while simultaneously giving them the confidence to smile again.
Tanglewood Dentist Dental Bridges Treatment
In order to get a dental bridge, your teeth need to be prepared and an accurate map of them needs to be taken.
Your Tanglewood Houston dentist maps your teeth by creating a cast of them. The cast covers all the surfaces of your teeth and creates a mold from which perfect replicas of your teeth can be made.
These replicas help the dental laboratory to create a dental bridge that matches the shape, alignment, and size of your original teeth so it will fit comfortably and snugly.
A comfortable fit is important for longevity and to prevent bacterial infections from occurring.
To prepare your teeth, the dentist files down the teeth adjacent to the gap, which gives space for a crown to be placed over them?
The cast is used to create a dental bridge consisting of a false tooth with crowns on either side that will perfectly fit with your teeth.
Types of Bridges
Traditional bridges are those that sit between two teeth adjacent to a gap. The adjacent teeth are filed down and subsequently capped. Between these caps is the pontic, a porcelain tooth fused to a metal or ceramic structure. The structure spans the pontic and two caps. These are the most common types of bridges used.
Cantilever bridges are used in the instances where there is only one adjacent tooth next to the gap. These bridges are not very common and are generally not recommended for the back of the mouth, as chewing forces there are more likely to break the bridge.
Resin bonded bridges, also known as Maryland bridges, don’t require filing and capping adjacent teeth. Instead, the pontic has a porcelain or metal framework supporting a porcelain, metal, or plastic tooth that is bonded to adjacent teeth with a resin.
Once the dental bridge is complete, which can take a few days to over a week; you will return to the dentist and have it installed.
Your Tanglewood dentist will ensure the fit is comfortable before securing the crowns to the anchor teeth. If it’s not quite right, they’ll make minor adjustments or, if necessary, order a new dental bridge be constructed.
Once secured, your dental bridge is complete! You’ll be able to eat and drink as normal, and taking care of your dental bridge is as simple as brushing and rinsing your teeth.
With constant care and regular dental checkups, your dental bridge can last five to ten years, and sometimes even longer.