Maintaining a healthy mouth and smile requires that you care for your teeth and gums daily by brushing and flossing. Yet all too often, something happens that can lead to damaged or missing teeth, forcing you to look for dental restorations that are most beneficial for your circumstances. One of those restoration options is a dental bridge, and there are many benefits for going with this choice.
What Exactly is a Dental Bridge?
A dental bridge is a restoration solution for spanning a gap between one or more missing teeth. Essentially, it will be a prosthetic that fits securely within your mouth, filling in that empty space and restoring your smile and dental health.
The bridge itself consists of one or more artificial teeth and is attached to the adjacent teeth on each side. These adjacent teeth, also called abutments, will most likely be dental crowns unless your natural teeth are healthy and strong enough to provide secure support.
While there are different types of bridges to choose from, much will depend on your particular circumstances and oral health. The types available include traditional, cantilever, and implant-supported.
- Traditional dental bridges: Consist of pontics (artificial teeth) anchored securely to two supporting abutments.
- Cantilever dental bridges: Rely on only one adjacent natural tooth or crown to serve as support and often used when a third molar is missing.
- Implant-supported dental bridges: Require artificial roots implanted into the jaw bone to serve as support for bridges and crowns.
9 Benefits of a Dental Bridge
A dental bridge is a good choice for filling in gaps due to missing teeth. To help you determine if it will be the right choice for you, here are 9 distinct benefits.
1. Improves Appearance by Restoring Your Smile
Feeling confident in your smile again can boost self-confidence and improve your quality of life. A dental bridge can recreate or restore your smile, providing you with a natural look that only you will know is partially artificial. Your dentist can match color shading to blend in with your natural teeth.
2. Provides a Stable Solution
Insertion of a dental bridge is a secure and stable solution. Since they are attached to abutment teeth and not the gums, like with dentures, there are less chances of slippage or falling out when you speak or eat.
3. Requires a Minimally Invasive Procedure
The procedure for receiving a dental bridge is minimally invasive and does not require intense surgery. At your first appointment, your dentist will prepare the abutment teeth for the eventual attachment of the bridge. This preparation may require removal of a thin layer of tooth enamel. Following that removal, an impression will be taken, and a mold created to send to the dental lab. Once the bridge is produced, you will return for a second visit for a fitting
4. Gives You a Faster Solution
Time is often of the essence when it comes to restoring the function and appearance of your teeth. A dental bridge can be a fast solution, depending on the size and type you need. The treatment procedure should take only two appointments to complete.
5. Aids in Better Chewing
Dental bridges not only improve your appearance but also restore the function of those missing teeth. Since the loss of one or more adjacent teeth can make it difficult to properly chew many foods, a dental bridge can eliminate that difficulty and help you return to consuming your favorite meals again.
6. Restores Speech
With missing teeth, you may experience difficulty in pronouncing specific words and even speak with a lisp. Your teeth play an essential role in how you form words to carry on a conversation, and a dental bridge can help resolve speaking issues and restore your speech back to normal.
7. Maintains the Natural Shape of Your Face
When you lose a tooth, the underlying jaw bone can begin to deteriorate. The reason for this is that the healthy root of a tooth stimulates the production of bone cells, and without it, you may suffer bone loss. Such loss can cause your facial structure to droop or sink. The dental bridge can help return your face to its natural shape.
8. Stabilizes Other Teeth
Your teeth remain secure in place with the help of their roots and also with the support of adjacent teeth. When a gap is left in place for too long, the remaining teeth can begin to drift over or shift out of their natural positioning to accommodate the gap. A dental bridge can help stabilize the surrounding teeth and keep them in their proper place.
9. Becomes Durable and Long-Lasting
Dental bridges are durable and long-lasting. While not as strong as your natural teeth, they can endure up to 15 years or longer as long as you practice good oral hygiene. The abutment teeth or crowns also need to stay in optimal health to support the bridge over the long term, so scheduling regular cleanings and dental exams will be beneficial.
Contact Stiles Dental Care to Learn More About Dental Bridges Today!
Knowing all your options when it comes to restoring the appearance and function of your teeth will be essential should you experience damaged or missing teeth. Dental bridges are often a popular choice due to the many benefits they provide. To learn more about these and other restoration options, contact the team at Stiles Dental Care today. We will examine your current dental health, discuss available options, and prepare a personalized treatment plan just for you.
