Dental Bridge Missing one or more teeth can present many challenges. Besides having bite problems, chewing difficulties, and pain from the excess stress on the teeth and jaw, you may be self-conscious about the look of your smile and face. It makes sense to seek solutions to replace the missing teeth to do away with these problems. Dental bridges are viable restorations for replacing missing teeth. A dental bridge helps you restore the appearance and function of your bite. A dental bridge serves to bridge the gap where the lost or missing tooth is. Our team at Wildhorse Dental is able to fit dental bridges and restore your smile. Types of Dental BridgesWe use different kinds of dental bridges to fix your bite problem. Traditional fixed bridges are the common ones. They have two or more crowns along with a filler tooth. The crowns hold the bridge piece in place. Often, traditional bridges are fabricated from porcelain-fused-to-metal, ceramics, or metal. Another type, known as a cantilever bridge, has the pontic, or false tooth, connecting to just a single abutment tooth. Our dentist can recommend this type of bridge if you have teeth present on just one side of the missing tooth gap. People with front teeth missing can opt for the Maryland dental bridge, also known as a resin-bonded bridge. This restoration has wings on both sides that bond to the existing teeth. Finally, there is the implant-supported bridge, which, though similar to a traditional fixed bridge, has posts anchored into the bone to provide stability. Dental Bridge Placement ProcedureYou need two appointments for the bridge to be placed. On your first visit, our dental specialist prepares the abutment teeth by reshaping them. The dentist removes a section of the enamel as well as dentin in order to create room for fitting the crown. Next, the dentist gets impressions of the teeth or digital scans and uses them as models for creating the bridge, pontic, and crowns. Meanwhile, you will receive a temporary bridge that offers protection for the exposed areas of a tooth that has been filed down. Later on, after about two weeks, you will visit our office for placement of the permanent bridge. Any adjustments for the permanent bridge are done to ensure it fits comfortably. Taking Care of Dental BridgesWith your new dental bridge, you can eat soft foods sliced into pieces until you are used to the restoration. The success of a dental bridge will largely depend on how healthy and strong the remaining teeth are. You, therefore, should make sure you prevent decay and gum disease because they can result in tooth loss. Brush twice a day and floss at least once a day. Remember that eating chewy, fibrous foods can cause damage to the restorations, so avoid them altogether. Give your teeth the nutrition they need to remain healthy so that they support your dental bridge. As such, consume fruits, vegetables, and plenty of fiber. Lastly, do not forget to come to our office for cleanings and dental checkups. If anything does happen to your bridge, don't worry, we have several bridge repair options. Visit us at Wildhorse Dental to get dental bridges or learn more about these restorations. Call us at 636-537-0447 to schedule your appointment. |
Office HoursMonday: 8:00am-5:00pm Tuesday: 7:30am-4:00pm Wednesday: 7:30am-4:00pm Thursday: 7:30am-3:00pm Fri‑Sun: Closed |
