Dental Bridges: Everything You Should Know About Its Types, Cost, And Benefits
4 Basic Types of Dental Bridges
- Traditional
A traditional fixed bridge is comprised of prosthetic teeth that are affixed with dental crowns. This kind of dental bridge is fastened onto natural teeth. A typical 3-toothed traditional bridge has each end of it cemented onto shaved-down natural teeth, with the false middle tooth filling in the tooth gap. The two ends strengthen the foundation of the entire bridge as a whole.
- Implant-Supported
Instead of being capped onto teeth, implant-supported bridges have each side of the three-pronged prosthetic implanted into the jawbone. The fixture is drilled into the gums, and the metal abutments are attached to them separately. Their topmost portion is where the crowns are posted with the pontic at the center.
Since this bridge is embedded into the jaw, it can aid with bone growth. Patients who suffer from bone loss or have thin jawbones often choose this option since bone grafting and replacement will help restore bone density beneath the gums.
- Maryland
Maryland dental bridges have a thin horizontal fastening device that is bonded on the lingual surface (back surface) of the prosthetic tooth, along with the two other natural teeth right next to it.
A Maryland bonded dental bridge is typically used for replacing one front tooth. This is because the false tooth will need two other natural ones beside it, on which the horizontal support will be bracketed.
- Cantilever
Cantilever bridges differ from traditional and implant-supported bridges in that only one side of the prosthetic device is capped over a natural tooth. This natural tooth serves as the abutment to hold the bridge in position.
This tooth replacement option is for patients who either already have another crown or implant on a tooth next to the gap or if that same tooth is too weak to be made into an abutment for the prosthetic bridge.
Dental Bridge Benefits
- Restores Smile
The primary purpose of a dental bridge is to provide you with a tooth replacement alternative that blends well with your real teeth. Where other tooth replacement options are easily distinguishable, the prosthetics on dental bridges appear natural.
Because of this, you will no longer have to hide your teeth when you talk or when you smile. Instead, you will feel confident about your improved pearly whites.
- Improves Chewing Comfort
A dental bridge is to be crowned over a healthy natural tooth. This process alone reinforces the sturdiness of this device, even more so for implant-supported bridges.
Regardless of the dental bridge type, its durability aids in biting and chewing comfort. The bridge will not move in place despite force or pressure applied to them.
- Distributes Bite Force
Directly related to chewing ease is the advantage of bite force-distribution that comes with prosthetic bridges. In effect, there will be little to no adjustment required when you eat or speak as bite force distribution does away with discomfort.
- Prevents Tooth Shifting
The likelihood of teethshifting on a gumline that has one or more teeth gaps is very high. When teethshifting takes place, it will be treated as a separate dental issue–an additional dental problem that needs addressing, aside from the tooth gap itself.
But with a dental bridge, your dentist in Lexington can immediately replace your missing tooth and retroactively impede the occurrence of tooth-shifting.
- Supports Facial Muscles
Another advantage of dental bridges is that they offer excellent facial support. Missing teethmanifest as hollows within your cheeks. In time, these will make your cheekbones appear sunken and saggy.
When bridges are set where gaps used to be, they will instantly fillin the sunken areas around your cheeks. Additionally, having these sturdy prosthetics will stop your facial muscles from collapsing on their own.
- Stops Jawbone Shrinkage
Earlier, we mentioned how bone grafting for implant-supported bridges and the implant-supported bridge itself would encourage bone growth. It is a benefit specific to implant-supported false teeth.
The jawbone progressively shrinks in parts where there aren’t any teeth to prop up. Fortunately, you can curb jawbone deterioration through this tooth restoration alternative.
For quality Lexington dental care, contact the office of Dr. Barry J. Cunha. Our dental experts can help you decide on the best tooth replacement option for you.