5 Things to Know Before Choosing a Dental Bridge

Missing teeth can affect appearance and your smile. Luckily, several treatments can replace your teeth and restore your smile. Gaining an understanding of your treatment choices will assist you in selecting the best option for yourself. We offer different teeth restorations like implants and dentures. However, if you are looking for a convenient, non-invasive dental procedure, tooth bridges may be an ideal option.

Dental bridges are for people who have one or more missing teeth. The bridge fills in the space where the tooth or teeth used to be. It is made of either porcelain, gold, or a combination of both.

Before deciding whether dental bridges near you are the answer, make sure you know your dental needs.

1. Bridges are permanent

A dental bridge is an artificial dental appliance that serves as a replacement for your missing tooth. Dental bridges are connected to natural teeth on either side of the gap, which serves as its foundation and helps restore the shape of your face. In addition, tooth bridges also help with speech problems and chewing.

2. They come in different types

A dental bridge can be either a permanent or temporary solution. The dental bridges come in different types that include:

• Fixed bridges: It is a permanent solution for tooth loss and typically involves the placement of artificial teeth anchored to multiple crowns. These come in different versions, traditional, cantilever, and Maryland bridges.
• The Cantilever bridges are recommended dental bridges for the front teeth. This is because they use one tooth for support instead of two. The Maryland bridges use a framework for support rather than crowns.
• Partial: It is also a permanent solution, and it replaces lost teeth that are not in the front of your mouth, typically with natural-looking false teeth.
• Removable: This type of dental bridge can be seen as either temporary or permanent because it only replaces the missing tooth while the other teeth remain in place.

3. The dental procedure needs at least two visits

The tooth bridges procedure is a two-step process. On the first visit, your dentist will prepare your teeth for the dental bridge. This includes removing some of the enamel from your natural teeth to make room for the dental bridge. They will also take an impression of your teeth to create a dental bridge in a dental lab. Our dentist will cover the trimmed teeth with temporary restorations to protect them against sensitivity.

On the second visit, a dentist near you will fit and shape the crown to match your natural teeth and then secure them in place. The dentist makes sure that the attachments are firmly anchored in place by giving you a temporary cement filling so they can ensure there are no spaces between them.

4. Bridges are irreversible

The tooth bridges procedure is irreversible and needs to be taken seriously. Once you have tooth bridges fitted they cannot be removed without causing damage to the teeth. Furthermore, the trimmed enamel will not grow back, and you will need to have bridges or other restorations.

5. Bridges are low maintenance

Tooth bridges do not require any special instructions like dentures. Brushing and other oral prosthetic maintenance activities are all that’s required to keep them in good shape. It’s worth noting that flossing is more difficult with tooth bridges. Some individuals who wear bridges prefer using a water flosser rather than ordinary dental floss.

The teeth underneath the bridges can decay, that is why you need to visit our dentist in Seattle at least twice a year to have your teeth cleaned and accumulated plaques removed.

How Long Do Bridges Last?

Tooth bridges should last a long time, at least a decade or more if taken care of properly. However, dental problems can always arise. If you have dental issues that aren’t addressed as soon as possible, tooth bridges might fail.

Schedule an Appointment

Visit 3rd & Columbia Dental for more information about tooth bridges and what you can expect during the procedure.