A Beginner's Guide to Dental Bridges

A dental bridge can replace one or several missing teeth. If a gap is left without using a bridge to stop teeth from shifting, the teeth above the gap will begin to drop down out of the upper jaw. The teeth on the bottom will shift, tilting toward the gap. Your bite will be off, causing your jaws to misalign. This misalignment is called a malocclusion, and might cause more dental problems, such as tooth sensitivity, worn or chipped teeth, crowding or shifting of teeth, headache, jaw pain, inability to chew effectively, and recession or bone loss around teeth. The best cosmetic dentist in Houston TX, can install implants or bridges, to help prevent these situations.

Types of Bridges

The center of cosmetic dentistry can provide you with a comfortable and reliable prosthesis. A traditional bridge is made up of one or more pontics, fake teeth, and is then cemented to crowns on either side to hold it in place. A cantilever bridge can be used if you only have an abutment tooth on one side. This type of bridge can sometimes cause fractured teeth, or a loosened crown. A Maryland bridge is a conservative option to traditional bridges. The bridge is held in place by a metal or porcelain framework, that is cemented onto the adjacent teeth, without first crowning the teeth. The bridge is only as strong as the supporting teeth, and the cement used.

A removable bridge is a pontic attached to a metal framework that fits over adjacent teeth. The wearer takes it out at night to properly clean and store it until the next morning. Food can get trapped under the bridge, but once the wearer is used to removing it, it is easy to pop out to clean out the trapped food, and then replace it in the mouth. With proper care, a removable bridge can last for many years. The best cosmetic dentist can tell you which device will be best for your situation.

Dental Restoration

The next decision is whether you want an implant or bridge to fill the empty space. Advanced cosmetic dentistry can explain what is involved in both procedures. Usually a titanium screw is implanted to make a new root to support a crown. If you only need one tooth, this might be a good option. A crown can be made of resin, porcelain, a blend of porcelain and resin, ceramic, stainless steel, or metals, such as gold, platinum, or silver. It’s shaped, to look and function like the real tooth it’s replacing. A bridge spans the gap and needs to anchor onto teeth on either side. If there isn’t a tooth on one side to hook onto, you might need an implant placed to serve as the anchor for one side, along with the bridge. Sometimes a bridge is considered to be a cosmetic procedure, but the bridge functions as a treatment to prevent jaw malocclusion. Bridges have also been used to overcome gum disease.

Cost of Dental Restoration

The cost for dental restorations is a real concern for many people. The cost will depend on the amount of work needed. There are many factors contributing to the cost of dental restorations, including dental bridge development, application to the mouth, and the number of surgeries or procedures necessary to complete the bridge. Dental insurance will usually cover a portion of the cost, as long it is not considered cosmetic.