Dental bridges are designed to replace the gaps created because of missing teeth. The bridges are composed of at least two crowns for the teeth which are placed on either side of the gap, and a tooth implant called pontics in between. These teeth implants are usually made of gold, alloys or a mixture of these materials. Structural support to dental bridges is provided by either natural teeth or implants.
It is recommended to fill the gaps created due to missing teeth. This is because gaps eventually cause the teeth surrounding the gaps to rotate and shift into the empty spaces. This results in a crooked and disoriented structuring of the entire tooth set which can result in a bad bite. Sometimes the imbalances caused due to missing teeth can even lead to gum disease and temporopmandibular joint disorders. Missing teeth also tend increase the risk of bone loss, which can affect the cosmetic appeal of the face.
Patients do have a choice when it comes to deciding the right material for the composition of their bridges, they can be helped by their dentists in the decision making process. The dentist will consider several factors such as the location of the missing teeth, aesthetic appeal and the overall cost.
When it comes to aesthetics, the teeth play a vital role and the wrong choice can lead to embarrassments in a patient’s life because of their social circles, for this reason porcelain or ceramic bridges are sometimes used for the material of bridges because they can be matched to the colour of your natural teeth.
Why dental bridges are important
Because bridges are filling up that visible gap between the teeth, they can help a patient to smile once again with a beaming face. They also restore the chewing function of the jaw and help with speaking. Once the gaps are closed, the bridges help to maintain the natural shape of your jaw which will no longer find a reason to contort in order to fill up the missing spaces.
Yet another primary function of the teeth is to properly distribute the pressure when you bite down on food, something which is negatively disrupted due to the missing teeth.
Visiting a dentist
The entire process requires about two visits to the dentist. During the first visit the dentist will prepare the abutment teeth, a process which involves slight modifications to the existing teeth by removing a small portion of the enamel to make room for the crown to be replaced over them.
Impressions of the teeth are then generated to help dentists design the bridge, pontic and crown teeth. The dentist makes a temporary bridge to protect the remaining teeth while the actual bridge is being prepared.
During the second visit, this temporary bridge is removed and the new bridge is placed.
While the entire process took no more than two visits, multiple subsequent visits to the dentist may be required in order to check the fit and framework of the bridge. Dental bridges can last for longer than 15 years if the patient performs due maintenance.
