Covering a Gap in Teeth with the help of a Dental Bridge
Having a missing tooth can cause a lot of problems; for example, it can make it difficult for you to chew food. A missing tooth can also affect your personality and confidence. Luckily, there is a way to fix this problem. With the help of a dental bridge in Coopersburg, PA, your dentist will be able to bridge the gap.
What is a Dental Bridge?
A dental bridge is a false tooth that is placed in the gap where your missing tooth used to be. It is held in place using the teeth on either side of the gap. A tooth bridge can be made from a number of materials like metal. However, the most common choice is porcelain, as it looks just like your natural teeth.
The Procedure
On your first visit to the dentist, your dentist will reshape the abutment teeth to make room for the crown. They do this by removing some part of the dentin and enamel. Once that is done, the dentist will either take a digital scan or an impression of your teeth. The scans or impressions are sent to the lab to create the bridge. The bridge will then be placed during the second visit.
Types of Dental Bridges
There are four main types of dental bridges. They are as follows:
Implant-supported Dental Bridge
The first kind of tooth bridge is known as an implant-supported dental bridge. As the name suggests, the fixed bridge uses dental implants rather than crowns. The procedure for this dental bridge in Coopersburg, PA, is that one implant is placed surgically for each missing tooth, which holds the bridge in position. If it is not possible to place an implant for each missing tooth, the fixed bridge may have a false tooth suspended between two implant-supported crowns. An implant-supported bridge requires two surgeries, one to place the implant and another to set the bridge.
Traditional Dental Bridge
As the name suggests, a traditional dental bridge is the most basic kind of bridge. The dental bridge consists of a false tooth being held in place with a dental crown. The crowns need to be cemented onto each of the abutment teeth. A traditional bridge is used when you have natural teeth on both sides of the gap.
Cantilever Dental Bridge
Next, we have the cantilever dental bridge. The pontic for this bridge is held in place with the help of a dental crown which is fixed to just one abutment tooth. To install a cantilever bridge, you only need one natural tooth next to the gap.
Maryland Dental Bridge
Like a traditional dental bridge, Maryland dental bridges use two natural teeth on either side of the gap. Unlike traditional dental bridges, a Maryland dental bridge favors a porcelain or metal framework over a dental crown. The framework is bonded to the back of the abutment teeth. One thing to keep in mind with Maryland bridges is that they can only be used when there is a natural tooth on either side of the gap caused by the missing tooth.
Cleaning and Caring for a Dental Bridge
Taking care of a dental bridge is very similar to how you would care for your natural teeth. It is recommended that you brush your teeth routinely with a soft toothbrush for not more than two minutes a day. Additionally, you can also floss regularly, which will help you prevent tooth decay and gum disease. If you are flossing with a bridge, you need to floss between the gum tissue and the base of the bridge. If you are flossing once per day, it is more than enough to remove any debris and plaque from the bridge, and its surrounding area.
Why Do You Need a Dental Bridge?
Having one or more teeth missing can cause a myriad of problems. You need all your teeth to work together, and when you have a tooth missing, nearby teeth can move into the empty space. This can cause difficulty in chewing bite problems. It can also hurt due to the stress on your jaw and teeth. Lastly, missing teeth can make you self-conscious about your smile.