Dental Care 101: An Overview on Dental Bridging Procedures

Are you missing one or more teeth? If so, you may be eligible to receive tooth bridging! Dental bridges are custom-made devices that fill the gap left by missing teeth. While it’s ane essential dental treatment, not many people know about what it is and what it can do to benefit their oral health.

This post will provide you with an overview of the dental bridge or tooth bridging procedure, including things to expect before and after your treatment.

What are Dental Bridges?

Dental bridges are created by placing two crowns over the teeth on either side of the gap left by your missing tooth. These kinds of teeth are called “abutment teeth,” and they act as anchors for the false tooth, which will be made of alloys, porcelain, or other materials. 

Besides that, dental bridges and tooth bridging are supported by healthy, natural teeth, making them a long-lasting replacement option.

Are Dental Bridges Procedures Worth It?

Tooth bridging has lots of advantages. It gives you back your beautiful smile. It even makes it for you easier to speak and eat. Bridges help keep your face looking how it does currently.

If you are missing teeth, your other teeth will eventually shift into a new position. Additionally, the bones that support your face can become misshapen or weakened. Not only does this make you look older than you are, but it can also cause your face to sag.

Also, dental bridges can help prevent this by filling in the gaps left by missing teeth and supporting the structure of your mouth.

Dental bridges help to evenly distribute the force from chewing and resting your jaw so that one area is not taking on too much pressure. Too much pressure in one area will eventually lead to frail teeth.

What is the Cost of Dental Bridges?

The price of your dental bridge will depend on the material you want your fake tooth to be made of and how many teeth you need to have replaced. Most dental insurance companies will help cover the cost. Tooth bridging is more affordable than dental implants and can last just as long.

With proper care, they can last anywhere from five to 15 years. The average lifespan for a dental bridge is 10 years.

What to Expect with Dental Bridges?

Dental bridges don’t require surgery, which is a major advantage over dental implants. With implants, you have to undergo surgery and wait a long time for the replacement tooth.

We’ll take impressions of your mouth on the first visit, so we can create a fabricated tooth replacement. We’ll also prepare the abutment teeth for the crowns that will go over them. You’ll wear a temporary bridge until your permanent one is ready.

What are the Types of Dental Bridges?

  • Traditional Bridges: Traditional bridges typically involve placing a dental crown on each abutment tooth or dental implant, with a pontic in between. Also, traditional bridges are the most common type of bridge and can be made from materials such as porcelain fused to metal or ceramics. 
  • Cantilever Bridges: Cantilever bridges are utilized when there are teeth adjacent to the missing tooth or teeth on only one side. Though not very common anymore, this is still done in the back of the mouth, from where it puts too much force on other teeth and damage them.
  • Maryland Bonded Bridge: This dental bridge is supported by a metal or porcelain framework, with metal or porcelain wings bonded to the existing teeth on one or both sides of the bridge. The bridge may be made of porcelain, porcelain fused to metal, or plastic teeth and gums.

Conclusion

Dental bridges are a smart and classy way to replace missing teeth. Replacing a single tooth isn’t much of a hassle, but replacing multiple teeth presents a challenge. If you’re missing one or multiple teeth, you could be in need of a dental bridge.

To enjoy the benefits of tooth bridging, feel free to reach out to Watertown Dentistry today. Let us restore your confidence and your beautiful smile, and they help you eat, speak and smile with ease. Contact us here. If you want to receive quality cosmetic dentistry in Newton, MA, for your dental bridges, book a visit with us today!