At Perfect Smile, we understand that your smile is more than just how you look. It also affects how you feel and act.
A single imperfect tooth, even if it is only slightly damaged, can have a severe impact on your self-confidence, stopping you from smiling and talking easily. An imperfect smile can also limit your personality and your ability to interact with others, stopping you from living your life as you want to.
What are Dental Bridges?
A Bridge is commonly made up of two crowns for the teeth, one on either side of the gap – these two anchoring teeth are called abutment teeth – and a false tooth/teeth in between. These false teeth are called “Pontics” and can be made from gold, alloys, porcelain, or a combination of these materials. Dental Bridges are supported by natural teeth or implants.
The benefits of Dental Bridges:
- Restore your smile
- Restore your ability to properly chew and speak
- Maintain the shape of your face
- Distribute the forces in your bite properly by replacing missing teeth
- Prevent remaining teeth from drifting out of position.
How Do I Care for a Bridge?
Brushing and Flossing
Brushing twice a day and flossing regularly helps prevent tooth decay and gum disease that can lead to tooth loss. Your dentist or dental hygienist can demonstrate how to properly brush and floss your teeth.
Keep a Cleaning Schedule
Keeping a regular cleaning schedule will help diagnose problems at an early stage when treatment has a better prognosis.
Balanced Diet for Proper Nutrition
Maintaining a balanced diet is essential for getting proper nutrition.
Treatment Types
Traditional
- This is the most common type of bridge and is used when the missing tooth is in the middle of two other teeth. The crowns are fixed onto the healthy teeth on either side, securing the false tooth into the middle.
Cantilever
- This dental bridge is used when the missing tooth is on one side of healthy teeth. It works in the same way as a traditional bridge, except the crowns are fixed to the one tooth next to your missing one.
Maryland-bonded
- This dental bridge is great for missing front teeth. Instead of using crowns, the dental bridge secures your missing tooth in place by bonding a metal framework to the back of your healthy teeth either side of the gap.