Dental bridges are one of the most common dental appliances. A bridge is a dental device used to replace one or more missing teeth. A bridge is anchored to the teeth on either side of the space where the tooth is missing. The bridge consists of two or more crowns attached to abutment teeth and the false tooth in the middle of the two crowns. This appliance replaces a single tooth or multiple teeth that have been lost, usually due to decay. The loss of one or more teeth can seriously affect your oral health and smile appearance. If you have lost a tooth or more, you should talk to a specialist at dental bridge in Riverdale to find out if you are a candidate.
Who is a Candidate?
Anyone who has missing teeth and wants to replace them is a candidate for this dental appliance. The teeth surrounding the space where the tooth is missing will need to be checked for any damage or fillings before considering creating a dental bridge. This process ensures that all of the supporting teeth are in good health and strong enough to support the added strain of an appliance.
How Do They Work
A dental bridge is created when one or more false teeth, known as pontics, fill the gap left behind by missing ones. False teeth are attached to the surrounding natural teeth on either side of the gap by crowns. This creates a stable foundation that keeps your lips and cheeks touching when eating and speaking. A false tooth in the middle of the bridge helps keep your smile looking natural.
How Are They Fitted
Bridges are usually fitted after all of your permanent teeth have come in. The surrounding teeth are prepared by removing a small amount of enamel so that the crowns will fit snugly over them. A mold is then made of your teeth, and a temporary bridge is placed to cover the gap. After a couple of weeks, your dental lab will give you a custom-fitted bridge attached to the abutment teeth on either side with dental crowns.
What Are the Benefits?
One of the most significant benefits of a bridge is that it helps to keep your remaining teeth from drifting into the gap left by missing ones. A bridge also preserves the facial structure and support these teeth provide, otherwise lost if you remove them. Bridges can also help you speak and chew more comfortably because they make it easier for your lips and cheeks to come into contact with each other. Additionally, bridges can improve your overall oral health by preventing the surrounding teeth from drifting out of position and becoming infected.
To summarize, a dental bridge is a dental device used to replace one or more missing teeth. Anyone missing one or more teeth and who wants to replace them can benefit from dental bridges. After all of your permanent teeth have come in, you can have dental bridges. They can keep your remaining teeth from drifting into the gap left by missing ones, help preserve facial features, and improve your bite and speech.