If you have missing teeth, your dentist can use dental bridges to fix or bridge the gaps in your smile. A dental bridge is an artificial tooth held in place by abutment teeth on either side of a gap. Pontic can be constructed of a variety of materials, including gold, although they are commonly made of porcelain to blend in with your natural teeth.
What is a dental bridge?
Let us continue with a brief overview of dental bridges. A porcelain bridge can be used instead of a dental implant to replace a missing tooth. The term "bridge" refers to filling the space caused by a missing tooth or teeth. A porcelain-made artificial tooth replaces the missing tooth and is attached to the neighboring supporting teeth. Porcelain crowns cover these supporting teeth.
What Types of Dental Bridges Are Available?
Visit Omni Dental, if you want the best dental services in McMurray, PA. There are four types of dental bridges.
Traditional dental bridge
A traditional dental bridge consists of an artificial tooth or teeth kept in place by dental crowns cemented onto each of the abutment teeth. The most common type of dental bridge is a traditional bridge, which can be utilized when you have natural teeth on both sides of the gap created by your missing tooth.
Cantilever dental bridge
A cantilever dental bridge, like a traditional bridge, is held in place by a dental crown that is glued to only one abutment tooth. A cantilever bridge requires only one natural tooth adjacent to the missing tooth gap.
Maryland dental bridge
Maryland dental bridges, like standard bridges, use two natural abutment teeth, one on each side of the gap. A traditional bridge, on the other hand, puts dental crowns on the abutment teeth, and a Maryland bridge uses a metal or porcelain framework that is bonded to the backs of the abutment teeth. A Maryland bridge, like any other bridge, can only be utilized if you have a natural tooth on each side of the gap created by the lost tooth or teeth.
Implant-supported dental bridge
Implant-supported bridges, as the name implies, are supported by dental implants rather than crowns or frames. For each missing tooth, one implant is surgically implanted, and these implants hold the bridge in place. If one implant is not possible for each lost tooth, a pontic can be suspended between two implant-supported crowns.
What Is the Lifespan of Dental Bridges?
Dental bridges have a lifespan of five to fifteen years, and in some cases even longer. It is not unusual for a fixed bridge to last more than ten years with proper dental care and routine checkups.
What Are the Benefits of Dental Bridges?
Dental bridges can provide a variety of benefits, including:
- Restore your smile
- Restore your ability to chew and speak normally
- Keep the remaining teeth from slipping out of position
- Maintain the shape of your face
- Replace missing teeth to appropriately distribute the forces in your bite
We hope our blog has helped you understand what dental bridges are and how they can benefit you. If you're seeking the best dental bridge treatment in McMurray, PA, schedule an appointment with Omni Dental today.