DENTAL BRIDGES

What is a dental bridge?

Dental bridges are designed to close gaps caused by one or more missing teeth. They consist of a false tooth or teeth with crowns on the anchoring teeth adjacent to the false tooth or teeth. The false teeth can be made from different kinds of materials such as porcelain, gold, alloys or a combination of these materials.

There are 3 main types of dental bridges:

Traditional bridges are the most ordinarily used bridges and are made up of a false tooth or teeth to close a gap between teeth, with crowns on the teeth on both sides of the false tooth or teeth that will anchor the replacement tooth.

Maryland bonded bridges or a Maryland bridge are made up of a metal frame with metal wings on the sides which are attached to your existing teeth. The false tooth and gums are made out of plastic.

Cantilever bridges are used when a patient only has one tooth to anchor the bridge to. They will predominantly be inserted in areas of the mouth that don’t take a lot of strain when eating and will typically be the last 2 back teeth in either jaw.

Why get a dental bridge?

Generally, the main reason for getting a dental bridge is having lost one or more teeth, leaving you with an unsightly gap in your mouth. Getting a dental bridge to restore your smile to a beautiful one, will make you feel more confident and happy to smile widely. However, Dr. Stark may also suggest a bridge if you have a tooth that is broken or severely decayed and unable to support a dental crown, or if you are having trouble biting, eating or speaking because of lost teeth. A very important fact to consider if you are in doubt as to if a dental bridge is worth it or not, is to remember that gaps in your mouth will change the shape of your face because teeth adjacent to the gap will shift and drift, making you look and feel older. Dental bridges could also be less expensive than implants depending on your individual situation.

Advantages of dental bridges:

Dental bridges restore smiles by filling up gaps in the mouth! When gaps are filled quickly, the existing teeth will also not move out of position or take more strain than they would if all teeth were present and facial features will be maintained. Bridges also assist patients to eat more easily and speak more clearly.