A dental bridge is one type of tooth replacement option for people who still have teeth left in their dental arch. Since dental bridges function similarly to natural teeth, they offer aesthetic advantages and functional benefits that other types of dental installations, such as full dentures, do not. If you are considering whether a dental bridge is the right tooth replacement solution for you, read on so you can understand how it can improve your oral health and the aesthetic of your smile.
Most people do not want to be left with gaps where their natural teeth used to be. A dental bridge offers an alternative: a replacement that looks and functions similarly to natural teeth.
A dental bridge relies on the teeth around it to provide a strong tooth replacement option. The bridge is created by crowns being installed on one or more nearby teeth, and then a prosthetic tooth (or teeth) is affixed to cover the gap, bracing against these crowns. Therefore, the crowns support the bridge, which itself covers the area where the tooth or teeth are missing.
A dental bridge is a beneficial tooth replacement option for numerous reasons, primarily maintenance of the bite. When a patient loses one or more teeth in an arch, the surrounding teeth can begin to shift, and the teeth on the opposite arch no longer get the stimulation that they used to.
A dental bridge replaces those missing teeth with prosthetics that are strongly supported by crowns, so the patient’s bite can remain properly aligned. This assists with chewing, as it uses the muscles of the face, and with continued smooth speech. By distributing the bite forces appropriately, the patient’s jawbone can remain properly formed instead of suffering from atrophy.
The functional benefits of dental bridges are not their only advantages. Bridges are made with prosthetic teeth that mimic the natural color, sheen, and translucence of natural teeth. These help patients feel more confident in their smiles, as strangers will not be able to tell at a glance that a few of the teeth are attached to a dental bridge. This is an effective method of mitigating or even eliminating the self-consciousness that often comes with losing teeth.
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A dental bridge is a long-lasting method of tooth restoration. While it requires work on the teeth near the gap because they must be fitted for crowns, the resulting bridge looks natural and enables the patient to chew, speak, and bite just as they would with their natural teeth.
If you are considering a dental bridge as a potential option for your tooth replacement, know that you must have healthy teeth nearby in order to be a good candidate. Contact our office to schedule an appointment so we can evaluate these anchor teeth and confirm whether a dental bridge could be suitable for you.
Request an appointment or call Edward E Sherrill, DDS at 501-588-8942 for an appointment in our North Little Rock office.
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