Dental bridges can replace missing teeth, restoring the look of your smile and preventing bone shrinkage, shifting of other teeth, and problems chewing and speaking. This article will explore the costs, uses, and procedure of dental bridges so you can decide if they’re right for you.

Your dentist will give you local anesthesia to make the process comfortable. They will shape the abutment teeth by grinding them and take dental impressions to create the final bridge and crowns.

Cost

There are four major types of dental bridges Glendale AZ: traditional fixed, cantilever, Maryland, and implant-supported. Each has its own benefits and disadvantages. Depending on your preferences, oral health, and the number of missing teeth, one type may be more suitable for you than another. Dental bridges require healthy surrounding teeth and gums to hold them in place. If you have cavities, they should be treated before receiving a bridge.

A bridge consists of an artificial tooth, known as a pontic, and two supporting crowns. Typically, the dentist will prepare the natural teeth on either side of the gap by grinding them down. This is done to ensure that the bridge, pontic, and crowns fit properly. A dental bridge usually requires two appointments to install. During the first appointment, the abutment teeth are prepared for the crowns. This involves recontouring the abutment teeth and making impressions of them. The impressions are sent to a dental laboratory to create the crowns.

Appearance

Dental bridges are designed to fill in the gaps left by missing teeth. They can replace a single tooth or multiple missing teeth, and they look just like natural teeth. They are also designed to be permanent and can last for years with proper care and hygiene.

The dentist will give you local anesthesia to ensure your comfort during the procedure. Then they will prepare the two adjacent teeth that will hold the crowns (called abutment teeth) by removing some of their enamel, which is irreversible. They will then take impressions and send them to a laboratory where the bridge and the crowns will be made.

The abutment teeth are then fixed to the bridge with dental cement. The false tooth, called the pontic, is secured to the abutment teeth with either a metal, ceramic or zirconia. Your dentist may fit you with a temporary bridge while waiting for your bridge to be ready. This will require a second appointment to remove the temporary crown and cement the final bridge in place.

Function

Having missing teeth can cause various problems including a change in the shape of your face and jaw, difficulty chewing or speaking, and an increased risk for gum disease. Dental bridges can be used to fill these gaps and restore your smile and oral health. They can also prevent adjacent teeth from shifting into the gap.

To prepare for a bridge, your dentist will need to file down the supporting teeth (usually the two on either side of the empty gap) so they can be used as holders for the pontic, which is the missing tooth’s replacement. X-rays and other tests may be done to ensure that these supporting teeth are healthy and strong enough to support the bridge.

On your first visit, your dentist will place a temporary crown on the supporting teeth so you can eat and speak normally while waiting for your permanent bridge to be ready. They will then cement the permanent bridge to your supporting teeth with a strong dental adhesive.

Maintenance

Dental bridges are a permanent restoration that can last for ten years or longer with proper care. Daily brushing, flossing and hygienic visits to a dentist or dental hygienist will help your dental bridges Glendale AZ and the surrounding teeth stay healthy. If you have a missing tooth or teeth, consider a dental bridge to help improve your appearance and function.

The procedure for a dental bridge involves several visits to the dentist. On the first visit your dentist will give you medicine to make you comfortable, then prepare the abutment teeth (the natural teeth that support the bridge) by shaving them down. They will also take an impression of the abutment teeth and the gap. The impression will be used to create a permanent bridge in a laboratory. They may then put in a temporary bridge to protect the prepared teeth. On the second visit your dentist will remove the temporary bridge, check the fit and seating, and cement the permanent bridge in place.