Dental restorations are a big part of dentistry, without which most treatments would not be possible. Dentists all over the world work with different dental appliances to restore patients’ smiles. A big part of tooth restorations has to do with replacing missing teeth.
In the past, dentures were known as the most popular tooth replacement options. However, with modern dentistry, there are other tooth replacement alternatives, appropriate for both front teeth and back teeth. have you heard of dental bridges? Read on to learn more about them, and their role in dentistry.
What Are Dental Bridges?
They are teeth replacement appliances. The features an artificial tooth made to replace the missing one, as well as dental crowns to hold the replacement tooth. This replacement tooth is called a pontic. The pontic is often sandwiched between two dental crowns, or one. This will depend on the type of dental bridge used.
Types of Dental Bridges
There are three main types of dental bridges used in dentistry. They vary based on how they are installed. They include the following:
- Traditional bridges – these are very common in dentistry. For oral restorations, they are the most popular, more so for the back teeth. they feature two dental crowns and a pontic. The dental crowns are used to support the pontic.
- Cantilever bridges – these types are not as common as traditional bridges, but they are fairly popular. They are a little different from traditional bridges because they feature a single dental crown instead of two. This means that you only need support from one side of the tooth.
- Maryland bridges – these are very distinctive from the other two. They do not require dental crowns for support. They feature a pontic bonded to metal brackets that attach to the back of the adjacent teeth for support.
Other than the three main types, there is another categorization of dental bridges. This other type of dental bridge can be used with either traditional or cantilever bridges.
- Implant-supported dental bridges – with modern dentistry, it is now possible to replace multiple missing teeth in a row with dental bridges. This is through the help of dental implants. An implant or two are implanted in your jaw, to offer the support that would otherwise be offered by natural teeth. afterward, any of the above types of dental bridges are used.
What Is the Process of Getting Dental Bridges?
- Trimming the enamel – the adjacent teeth that will have crowns installed are shaved. This process helps create room for the dental crowns, which cap the entire tooth.
- Impressions of teeth – the impressions of your teeth will be taken. These are important to help generate an oral bridge that perfectly fits your mouth. Since the dental bridge takes a few weeks to create, your dentist will let off with a temporary bridge.
- Installation – the North Brunswick, Somerset, Edison dentist installs the dental bridge on your next dental appointment. This part of the procedure involves the dental bonding process. The dentist will use special dental cement to attach the dental crowns to your adjacent teeth.
Why Choose Dental Bridges?
A fair question to ask is whether or not you need dental bridges, as opposed to other types of dental restoration appliances. Some of the benefits of dental bridges include:
- They are convenient for single-tooth restoration – dentures are very resourceful for full-mouth restorations, as well as multiple missing teeth in a row. However, dental bridges are the best for replacing single teeth.
- They are not bulky – since dental bridges only contain pontic and dental crowns, they are not as bulky as dentures could be.