If you have missing teeth or severe tooth decay or damage, it is important to return your dental health to normal. A treatment option your dentist may recommend is a dental bridge. This common restorative dentistry treatment can replace one or several missing teeth. There are several types of dental bridges available depending on your needs. The dental team at Flower Mound Dental can provide you with a custom dental bridge in Flower Mound, TX to replace your missing or failing teeth.
What is a Dental Bridge?
A dental bridge is a prosthetic device that dentists use to replace teeth. It will “bridge” the gap between teeth created by one missing tooth or several consecutive missing teeth.
The prosthesis is made up of one or more false teeth, called pontics, and dental crowns. These pieces are fused together to create one fixture. The crowns are responsible for holding the entire fixture in place. They will be fixed to adjacent teeth or dental implants, both of which will serve as the anchors for the dental bridge.
A tooth bridge is custom made to fit perfectly in the patient’s mouth. We will make sure the prosthesis will match the color and contour of your natural, surrounding teeth.
Dental bridges serve several important purposes, including:
- Restore oral function
- Maintain facial aesthetics
- Prevent teeth shifting
- Improve appearance of your smile
There are Different Kinds of Dental Bridges Available to Meet Your Specific Needs
Our team will custom make a dental bridge for you that will meet your unique needs. The type of bridge you need will depend on how many teeth you are missing and where those teeth are located in the mouth.
- Traditional Dental Bridge: A traditional bridge consists of pontics located in between two dental crowns. The crowns are secured to two anchor teeth located on each side of the gap.
- Cantilever Dental Bridge: A cantilever bridge is the same as a traditional bridge however there is only one dental crown on it. The prosthesis is used when only one anchor tooth is available for support.
- Maryland Dental Bridge: A Maryland bridge uses a metal or porcelain framework to bond a false tooth to the back of the adjacent teeth. The “wings” are cemented to the teeth to secure the tooth in place.
- Implant-Supported Bridge: A dental bridge can also be held in place with dental implants instead of anchor teeth. This requires surgical placement of the implant fixtures.
The Dental Bridge Process
If you need a traditional, cantilever, or Maryland dental bridge, it does require the use of your healthy remaining teeth. A cantilever and traditional bridge use dental crowns that are secured to anchor teeth. The dentist will need reduce these teeth in size to accommodate the bridge. During this part of the process, your dentist will numb the area around your teeth for your comfort.
Once your teeth are prepared, we will take impressions. These are used to make your permanent dental bridge and your temporary bridge. We will place the temporary bridge which you will wear until your permanent one is ready.
After about 2 to 3 weeks, we will remove the temporary bridge and secure your permanent one. It will be cemented or bonded to the anchor teeth, ensuring a secure fit. This is a fixed dental restoration that can only your dentist can remove.
The process to receive an implant supported bridge is very different. It requires surgical placement of the dental implants and several months of healing time. While a regular bridge can be placed in a less than a month, an implant supported bridge will take several months.
Are there any downsides to dental bridges?
Your dentist must physically remove layers from the anchor teeth in order to support the bridge. This is irreversible damage that must be done to the anchor teeth to replace your missing teeth. These teeth will also endure extra stress. This increases your risk for tooth sensitivity, tooth decay, and gum disease.
Also, dental bridges do not replace the teeth at the root. The teeth roots help stimulate and regenerate more bone. Without roots, the bone will reabsorb and bone loss will occur. Replacing your missing teeth with dental implants will prevent bone loss since they replace teeth at the root.
What is the lifespan of a dental bridge?
A dental bridge can last between 5 to 15 years. There are many factors that will contribute to its lifespan include your oral hygiene habits, wear and tear, and the health of the surrounding teeth and gums. A dental bridge will need to be replaced eventually, however. When teeth are not replaced at the root, bone loss will slowly occur affecting the fit of the bridge.
If you require a dental bridge in Flower Mound, TX, please contact us today. You can reach our dentist office by calling 972-640-7891 or you can request an appointment online by filling out the form.