Losing teeth can be a stressful experience that can impact our self-confidence, speech, and ability to chew food properly. While Henderson Family Dental offers many restorative dentistry solutions to close the gap left by missing teeth, a dental bridge is a popular and effective option. Our dental team can provide a custom dental bridge in Dallas, TX, that will blend in naturally with your surrounding teeth.
What is a Dental Bridge, and How Does it Work?
A dental bridge is a prosthetic dental device we use to replace one or more missing teeth. It consists of two or more crowns that the dentist places on the adjacent teeth, known as abutment teeth. Then, the false teeth (pontics) are suspended between them. The pontic closes the space left by the missing tooth, restoring the functionality and appearance of your smile. The number of pontics on a bridge depends on the number of missing teeth.
The dental bridge uses abutment teeth as anchors to support the pontic. The dentist will cement the dental crowns onto the abutment teeth, ensuring a secure and stable fit for the pontic. This design allows the dental bridge to function like real teeth, allowing you to chew, speak, and smile confidently. We can also use dental implants to support this type of dental restoration.
Types of Dental Bridges: Traditional, Cantilever, and Maryland
While dental bridges serve the same purpose, they come in different types to accommodate different dental cases. Here are the three main types of dental bridges:
- Traditional Dental Bridge: This is the most common bridge. It involves creating crowns for the abutment teeth. A traditional bridge has abutment teeth on both sides of gap, with the pontic between them.
- Cantilever Dental Bridge: We use this type of bridge when an adjacent tooth is on only one side of the missing tooth gap. Your dentist will anchor the crown to a single abutment tooth, creating a cantilever design. The downside of this type of bridge is it only uses support from one side of the tooth gap.
- Maryland Dental Bridge: Also called a resin-bonded bridge, A Maryland bridge offers a more conservative option. Instead of using crowns to place and support the prosthetic, we use metal or ceramic wings to hold a false tooth in place. The dentist will secure the wings to the abutment teeth, supporting the pontic in the middle.
What is an Implant-Supported Bridge?
An implant-supported dental bridge is an effective restorative dental solution that can replace multiple missing teeth. Unlike a traditional dental bridge, which relies on adjacent teeth for support, your dentist will anchor a bridge with dental implants. We will first surgically place the implants into the jawbone.
These implant posts act as artificial tooth roots, providing a stable and durable foundation for the bridge. This method ensures superior stability and function and helps preserve the jawbone’s integrity. Since the implant posts replace tooth roots, they stimulate the bone, allowing it to regenerate. The posts prevent bone resorption, which is common with tooth loss, and entice bone growth.
If you have lost several teeth in a row, your dentist will suggest an implant-supported bridge because it offers many benefits. The bridge and implants enhance chewing efficiency, improve speech, and maintain facial structure. Patients will enjoy better overall oral health and quality of life.
Common Concerns and Drawbacks of Dental Bridges
While dental bridges offer many benefits, it’s vital to be aware of some possible concerns and drawbacks. We will discuss these drawbacks so you can weigh the pros and cons of all your tooth replacement options.
- Tooth Preparation: To accommodate a traditional or cantilever dental bridge, we must file down the adjacent teeth (abutment teeth). We must reshape and permanently alter their structure to accommodate the crowns.
- Increased Risk of Decay: If you do not maintain proper oral hygiene, the area around the dental bridge is more prone to plaque buildup and decay. You will be at risk for further tooth loss.
- Jaw Bone Loss: Unlike dental implants, a dental bridge does not stimulate bone growth, which can lead to gradual jaw bone loss over time. An implant-supported bridge is the only solution to avoid bone loss.
- Limited Lifespan: While dental bridges can last a decade or more, they are not a permanent solution and may need to be replaced every 5-15 years, depending on various factors.
- Cost: While generally more affordable than dental implants, dental bridges may still require a significant investment. The cost will vary based on the type of bridge and materials we use.
Benefits of Implant Bridges
Implant-supported dental bridge in our Dallas, TX office offers many benefits. These bridges offer:
- Permanent Results: After they heal, your implant posts will stay permanently in your mouth. With proper care and maintenance, implant dentures can last for many years, compared to traditional dentures, which may need replacement every 5-10 years.
- Improved Fit: Implant dentures are securely anchored to dental implants surgically placed in the jawbone. This eliminates issues like slipping or clicking associated with traditional dentures, providing a more natural feel and improved stability.
- Full Bite Function: Since implant dentures are firmly anchored in place, they make it easier to eat hard and crunchy foods. Implants offer increased bite function over removable dentures, which can slip when you eat.
- Jawbone Support: Dental implants fuse with the jawbone to help stimulate and preserve healthy bone. This prevents the bone loss that can occur over time with traditional dentures. It helps maintain the facial structure to prevent a sunken appearance.
Getting Dental Bridges
If you get a traditional dental bridge, we will first ensure you are in good oral healht. Then, we will prepare the natural teeth on either side of your missing tooth gap. We remove part of the tooth enamel to prepare the teeth for the dental crowns.
Then, we take impressions of your mouth to create custom crowns and bridges. In the meantime, we will provide a temporary restoration. Once we get your restoration from the dental lab, we will ensure it fits you properly.
If you want a longer-lasting option, we will recommend an implant-supported bridge. We will help ensure you are a good candidate for dental implants before treatment. You must be in good oral health and have enough healthy jaw bone to support the implant posts. We may recommend grafting to build up healthy jaw bone in your mouth.
Once you are healthy, an oral surgeon places the implant posts. It takes time to get used to these posts as your natural jaw bone grows around them. After 3 to 6 months, you will return to our office, where we place the abutments. Abutments are pieces that connect the implant posts to your bridge. Finally, after more healing, we will attach your final bridge to the abutments.
Restore Your Missing Teeth
If you need a dental bridge in Dallas, TX, please get in touch with Henderson Family Dental today. You can reach our dentist’s office by calling 214-253-4868 or request an appointment online by filling out the form.