A dental bridge is a permanently attached repair that replaces one or more missing teeth. Dental bridges replicate the appearance, shape, or function of the natural teeth. They are customized for each patient.
Based on the situation, you may require numerous dental bridges. This is referred to as full-mouth rehabilitation. If you miss many teeth, your dentist may prescribe dentures instead.
Porcelain is the most often used material for dental bridges. Some dental bridges are made of all-ceramic, a material composed of porcelain and other similar materials.
Before placing the dental bridge, your dentist will remove a portion of the tooth structure from the abutment teeth. Abutment refers to the teeth on each side of the dental bridge that supports it.
Types of Dental Bridges
Dentists recommend four types of dental bridges. They are:
- Traditional dental bridges
- Cantilever dental bridges
- Maryland dental bridges
- Implant-supported dental bridges
Traditional Dental Bridges
Traditional dental bridges are made from crowns cemented on top of the abutment tooth to attach a false tooth. In cases when you have healthy teeth on each side of the gap caused by your lost tooth, a traditional bridge is the most usual option.
Cantilever Dental Bridges
While a cantilever dental bridge is comparable to a regular bridge, the bridge is secured by a dental crown carefully attached to only one abutment tooth. A cantilever bridge requires only one natural tooth next to the gap created by the lost tooth.
Maryland Dental Bridges
Maryland dental bridges, like regular bridges, utilize two natural abutment teeth on either side of the gap. Unlike a typical bridge, which utilizes dental crowns on abutment teeth, the Maryland bridge uses a metal or porcelain substructure attached to the back of the abutment teeth.
As with a regular bridge, a Maryland bridge can be used only if you have a natural tooth on either side of the gap created by the lost tooth or teeth.
Implant-Supported Dental Bridges
As the name suggests, implant-supported bridges are supported by dental implants rather than crowns or frames. Usually, one implant is inserted surgically for each missing tooth, and all these implants secure the bridge. A pontic may be hung between two implant-supported crowns if one implant is impossible for each lost tooth.
Considered to be the most stable bridging system available, an implant-supported bridge typically needs two surgical procedures:
- One is to implant the implants into the jawbone.
- A second procedure is to put the bridge.
The treatment may require many months to complete.
How Many Teeth Can A Bridge Hold?
Depending on your needs, a dental bridge can replace one to four teeth. In most cases, one to two teeth are replaced. However, if required, a bridge can replace more teeth than four teeth.
How Long Does A Dental Bridge Last?
Dental bridges may last between 5 and 15 years, if not longer. With proper oral care and routine examinations, it is not uncommon for a fixed bridge to last more than 15 years.
How Long After Extraction Can You Get A Bridge?
This is mostly determined by how recently the lost tooth was extracted. The bridge could be rebuilt within 2-4 weeks if it was extracted years ago. It will take longer if the extraction is recent or has not yet occurred.
Typically, it takes 5 to 6 months following an extraction for the gum form to settle before a permanent bridge can be placed. You may wear a temporary bridge and partial denture throughout this healing time.
Can A Temporary Dental Bridge Be Done In One Day?
Your dentist may extract your teeth and fit you with a temporary bridge within a day. Swelling caused by oral surgery does not subside before the temporary bridge is placed.
How Much Is A Bridge For 2 Teeth?
A two-unit bridge will typically cost between $2000 and $4000.
However, the cost is determined by the position of the teeth, the type of bridge required, and the materials used.
Dental bridges vary in price also according to the region of the country where the treatment is performed.
Typically, your dental insurance will cover part of the price, but consult your insurance representative before you go to the dentist.
Is A Dental Bridge Noticeable?
Sometimes it is. Not only may it allow tiny germs or food debris to become trapped behind the bridge, potentially causing dental issues, but many patients also complain that their bridge slips slightly and becomes visible when they eat, drink, speak, or sneeze.
How Many Dental Appointments Do You Need For A Fixed Bridge?
Typically, fixed bridge procedures need two to three sessions.
- Session 1: The abutment teeth, the natural teeth on either side of the missing tooth, are shaped at the initial visit to accommodate the crowns. The dentist uses a local anesthetic when molding the abutment teeth.
After shaping the abutment teeth, the dentist takes an imprint of them, which is sent to a lab to design and fabricate the fixed bridge. The dentist may recommend a temporary bridge for the patient.
- Session 2: In the second session, the dentist evaluates the fit of the fixed bridge and permanently attaches its crowns to the abutment teeth.
The second session does not need an anesthetic.
The dentist may apply temporary cement to give the patient time to adapt to the permanent bridge.
A third appointment is necessary in certain cases. It is used to evaluate the fit of a fixed bridge, make any modifications, and permanently bond the crown to the abutment teeth.
Which Is Better, Denture or Bridge?
Since each mouth is unique, this is a question that your dentist can answer best.
Bridges could last up to fifteen years, but partial dentures often last five years or less. A bridge could be a better option if you have one or two missing teeth. Partial dentures are generally less costly and are chosen when multiple teeth are missing.
If you fear losing more teeth, you may also want to consider a partial denture as a less expensive option.
Does Food Get Stuck Under the Dental Bridge?
A dental bridge is a prosthetic tooth. It floats above the gums and is linked to two dental crowns on each side. Due to the gap behind the prosthetic tooth, food can easily get stuck beneath or around a bridge.
It is essential to get frequent examinations to ensure that your dental bridge fits properly.
Take interdental brushes and flossing threaders with you to assist remove food particles.
Can You Eat Normally with A Dental Bridge?
Using a dental bridge to replace lost teeth should certainly make eating simpler. Eat soft meals or food sliced into little bits until you adjust to the bridge.
Permanent bridges frequently provide a more effective chewing function than detachable bridges.
Can A Dental Bridge Crack?
Dental bridges and crowns could become damaged, fractured, or loose in the mouth in various ways, requiring repair or replacement. The most evident is a direct or unintentional blow to the lips.
A dental bridge and crown might fracture, shatter, or become loose when an impact is strong enough. Even less severe hits or direct pressure, if repeated, may result in your crown or bridge loosening.
If no such accident or trauma to the mouth or jaw has occurred, deterioration on the teeth holding the bridge or crown may be the real cause. Because they rely on your natural teeth for support, tooth decay on those teeth might jeopardize the bridges’ structural integrity.
Inconsistent oral hygiene might worsen this problem by accelerating decay and increasing the likelihood that the crown or bridge will require replacement.
The Pros and Cons of Dental Bridges
Pros
- A dental bridge may compensate for the loss of original teeth on an aesthetic level, especially if the bridge is closely matched in color to the adjacent teeth.
- Dental bridges may also help the mouth’s long-term structure. Normally, a gap in the jaw leads the teeth to progressively change position and expand out, resulting in biting difficulties. In comparison, when a bridge is used to replace missing teeth, the remaining teeth on each side are securely retained, minimizing the possibility of movement and subsequent biting issues. Additionally, the bridge may help minimize the danger of jawbone loss.
- Many patients choose dental bridges because they feel comfortable having them in their mouths. Bridges don’t require routine removal for cleaning and may be cleaned with a toothbrush, much like natural teeth.
Cons
- In certain circumstances, the healthy abutment teeth on each side of the gap that secures the pontic in place may get compromised following the bridge’s placement. For instance, deterioration can occur if the bridge or crowns are not properly fitted, allowing plaque and germs to infiltrate beneath them.
- If the abutment teeth lack the strength to sustain the bridge, it may collapse. That will create new issues that may aggravate your oral health. In extreme situations, dental implants may eventually be required to replace the abutment teeth.
