Tooth loss is, unfortunately, very common in adulthood. Many adults lose their natural teeth prematurely because of different reasons, the common one being dental decay. Some other reasons include fractured teeth and traumatic accidents. Either way, the thought of being without teeth for the rest of your life is detrimental. Thankfully, there are restorative dental procedures like dental bridges that can restore your smile.
Why would anyone choose dental bridges while there are many other dental alternatives for replacing teeth? Before getting dental bridges, there are several things you must learn about them.
What Are Dental Bridges?
They are oral appliances that are used to replace missing teeth. They feature an artificial replacement tooth called a pontic, and dental crowns to support the pontic in your mouth. Any dentist near you will tell you that bridges are very reliable for replacing your missing teeth, featuring less invasive application and installation techniques than dental implants.
Facts to Master About Dental Bridges
One of the best ways to prepare for any dental procedure is to learn as much as you can about it. With dental bridges, here are some of the facts you should learn about:
There are different types of dental bridges – to ensure that there is something for everyone, dentists in 33426 have different types of bridges for dental restorations:
Traditional dental bridges – are the most common types installed by dentist in Boynton Beach 33426. They feature an artificial tooth and two dental crowns to support it on either side.
Cantilever bridges – they are differentiated from traditional bridges by the use of a single dental crown and an artificial replacement tooth.
Maryland bonded bridges – they feature porcelain wings and a metal framework. Ideally, you only get an artificial tooth that is supported by porcelain wings that are wrapped around the adjacent teeth.
You need other natural teeth to be intact – for most types of dental bridges, they rely on support from adjacent teeth to work. It means that unless you have one or two adjacent teeth in place, you need another restorative procedure to get an implant that will act as the support for the dental bridge. However, it also depends on whether you opt for traditional dental bridges or Cantilever bridges.
You will lose part of your natural teeth – even though this treatment is meant to replace your lost tooth, it has an impact on the rest of your natural teeth. The adjacent teeth that will support the pontic that replaces your lost tooth need to be trimmed and reshaped. The amount of healthy natural teeth removed usually matches the size of the dental crown that will be featured in the dental bridge being created. Once the teeth are reshaped, standard impressions of your teeth are taken to help design the perfect fitting models of bridges for your procedure.
You may need dental implants – while your goal may be to get a quick fix for your lost teeth, a dentist near you may recommend getting dental implants. As earlier mentioned, you cannot benefit from dental bridges without adjacent teeth to support the artificial replacement tooth. When you do not have sufficient adjacent teeth to support a dental bridge, your dentist may recommend getting implants. The implants will act as the necessary roots to support the dental implants.
They are cosmetically appealing – oral bridges are made of tooth-colored porcelain materials. This ensures that the bridges use on your teeth can be color-matched to the color of your natural teeth for a beautiful smile.
They can wear down your teeth – because dental bridges cannot work without support from adjacent teeth, your dentist in Boynton Beach will warn you of the possibility of wearing down the adjacent teeth. This, however, will take a while before it starts happening. A factor that may impact this is the proper fit of the dental bridge. Usually, dental bridges are created based on the impressions of your mouth. If the design is perfectly molded to befit your teeth, the case of wearing down your teeth may be reduced significantly. It also depends on how well the bridges were placed, and the type of dental bridge you got.
Are you planning to get dental bridges in Boynton Beach, FL? Call us now to book an appointment with our dentist near you and learn more about dental bridges. We also cater to patients residing in Boynton Beach, Ocean Ridge, Woolbright Road, Sea Pines, Hypoluxo Village, King Theodore Drive, Manor Forest Boulevard, and nearby areas.