How to Improve Your Smile and Gain Functionality with Dental Bridges?
When you have lost your natural teeth, the impact is not just on your smile’s appearance but also on teeth function. Therefore, when looking into tooth replacement solutions, you must account for both the function and aesthetics of your oral cavity. Perhaps this is the reason dental bridges are still popular in modern dentistry.
What Are Dental Bridges?
Bridges are dental restorations that replace one or more missing teeth by anchoring artificial teeth to the remaining natural teeth or dental implants. A typical dental bridge features an artificial replacement tooth and two dental crowns. It is a bridgework because it has dental crowns that support the artificial replacement tooth between adjacent teeth.
What Is the Procedure for Dental Bridges?
The process of getting a dental bridge typically takes several weeks to complete and requires multiple visits to the dentist. However, the result is a durable and functional restoration that can improve oral health and quality of life. The steps include:
- Consultation and examination: Your dentist in Manalapan will examine your mouth and teeth to determine if a dental bridge is the best treatment option. You will also discuss the various types of bridges available and help you choose the one that best meets your needs. The types are:
- A traditional dental bridge – features two dental crowns and an artificial replacement tooth called a pontic.
- Cantilever dental bridge – features one dental crown and an artificial replacement tooth.
- A Maryland-bonded dental bridge – features an artificial replacement tooth bonded to adjacent natural teeth using porcelain or metal brackets.
- Preparing the teeth: Once you have decided on a dental bridge, the next step is to prepare the adjacent teeth that will support the bridge. The dentist will remove a small amount of enamel from these teeth to create space for the bridge to fit over them. If the teeth are severely damaged or decayed, they may need to be built up with a filling beforehand to provide a solid foundation for the bridgework. Sometimes you may need dental implants as alternatives to weak natural teeth.
- Taking impressions: The dentist will take impressions of your teeth and send them to a dental laboratory. The lab uses these impressions to create a custom bridge that fits your mouth like a glove.
- Fitting and installing the dental bridge: The dentist must check the fit before the final installation to make any necessary adjustments. When the fit is perfect, the dentist will install the bridgework by cementing it over the prepared teeth. Dental experts usually use lasers to cure the cement quickly and strengthen the bond.
- Follow-up visits: After your dental bridge treatment, you must return to your dentist for follow-up visits to ensure the optimum functioning of your new teeth and make any necessary adjustments.
How Do They Improve Your Smile’s Appearance?
Tooth bridges in Englishtown have been popularized as dental restorations that can improve your cosmetic appearance. Rightfully so, many patients’ smiles have been transformed with dental bridges, particularly for the front teeth.
For one, a dental bridge will close the gap in your mouth caused by missing teeth. Therefore, people will no longer be staring at your mouth because of a gap. A bridgework will further help maintain your face shape and prevent the sunken appearance that often results from missing teeth.
Can Dental Bridges Improve Your Mouth’s Function?
Yes. When you get dental bridges at Union Hill Dental, they can improve your mouth’s function. The oral appliances restore your ability to bite and chew properly, which is lost when you lose natural teeth.
Besides, the surrounding teeth can shift out of position when you lose a tooth. Missing teeth can also cause the remaining teeth to become crooked or crowded over time. The consequences can include bite problems that make it difficult to eat certain foods. In such cases, the dental bridges near you will prevent this shifting, restoring proper alignment.
Additionally, a dental bridge can improve your speech by filling in the gaps in your smile that can make pronouncing certain words difficult.
Summary
Overall, dental bridges can have a significant impact on your oral health, function, and aesthetics after tooth loss.