Everything to Know About Dental Bridges

People with a missing tooth or extractions performed due to deep cavities need some kind of restoration to carry out their day-to-day activities. Dental bridges are permanent appliances comprising prosthetic pontics fused together to fill the gap created by missing teeth. Unlike other solutions, this option is fixed by using a crown abutment for optimal functioning and aesthetics. Patients can find several different types of materials, but porcelain restorations are the most popular choice because of their structural solidity and accurate resemblance to natural enamel color.

Advantages of bridges

After teeth loss, people lose their efficiency to chew foods properly. It could even affect their general health because of digestion troubles. Dental bridges can replace the gap between adjacent dentition, offering better biting efficiency to break down food particles.

Another detrimental consequence of edentulism is shifting where a neighbouring tooth would move in towards an empty root socket. Failing to prevent this movement could inflict more troubling complications.
Lack of stimulation caused by teeth loss could result in a gradual deterioration of jaw bone structure. As a result, individuals might lose their natural facial structure and acquire an obnoxious appearance.

Primary types

Patients can choose from three basic types of applications, depending on their condition and lifestyle.

• Traditional fixed

A common type of permanent restoration is a traditional fixed that uses several false pontics to attach abutment crowns. Depending on the number of missing dentin, dentists might administer one or more replacements.

• Cantilever

Another option accessible for patients is a cantilever that comes with only one crown attached to a dentin’s side. This option is generally preferred for front molars, as it cannot sustain any excessive pressure.

• Maryland bonded

Lastly, these are porcelain materials fused to metal pontics that are used for front mouth replacements. Some Maryland bonded types are even supported by metal frameworks for better rigidity.

Procedural phases

Patients receive their dental bridges in two or more appointments depending on the work involved. At first, dentists prepare adjacent teeth for crowns by removing some enamel layers to facilitate sufficient space. Some cases may not need preparation because of severe decay damages.

Then, practitioners take impressions with putty paste to get an accurate outline of dentitions. They pour plaster materials in this impression that will serve as a model for fabricating appliances in labs. During this fabrication process, patients can get temporary restorations for protecting an empty socket.

Once finished, dentists cement dental bridges in place with composite materials and special adhesives. Subsequent visits are necessary for making bite adjustments and ensuring a proper fit. After they make necessary adjustments, practitioners fix them permanently in place for life-long benefits.