An individual’s appearance can be affected by missing or decaying teeth. Not only the appearance but also affects the ability to eat certain foods and the quality of life. These days, the best way to restore the bite and smile is a dental bridge. It is specially fabricated and permanently fitted to ensure the teeth stay secure and robust.
In this article, we will learn about dental bridges, why we need them, and different kinds of dental bridges.
What is a Dental Bridge?
A dental bridge is a permanent instrument that dentists use to replace one or more missing teeth. A bridge consists of several pieces fused together that can fit into the open space where the original tooth was. Undoubtedly, a dental bridge is an alternative to partial dentures. Other than that, eating, speaking, and having a better look can be very helpful.
Dental bridges are available in several materials, including alloys, porcelain, and gold. When you need to replace the front tooth, porcelain is the most often used material, as it can match the tooth’s natural colour. An individual needs to understand what to expect from a dental bridge, as it has several advantages and can be a great way to complete the smile.
Why Do We Need a Dental Bridge?
The main reasons for using a dental bridge are an individual’s appearance and oral functionality. It can be helpful to support your cheeks and lips because losing the back tooth can cause the mouth to sink, and your face will start looking older. People use the bridge for their dental health. As teeth are there to complement each other, unusual stress can be placed on the oral tissues and gums when the teeth are missing, which can cause several harmful disorders.
The worst side effect of missing teeth can be the increased risk of gum disease, and the best way to minimise it can be a dental bridge. Many people can have speech disorders if they have missing teeth because they are used to making the sounds used to speak clearly.
Types of Dental Bridges
The artificial teeth in a dental bridge are known as pontics. The dentist uses a pontic for each missing tooth and is there to be close in shape and size to the missing tooth. The dentist anchors the pontics to the teeth next to the gap or the dental implant. The following are the four major types of dental bridges.
- Traditional Dental Bridge
It is the most common type of dental bridge, and it can have a crown on either side of the pontic.
- Maryland Dental Bridge
The Maryland dental bridge replaces the front tooth. Instead of a crown, this dental bridge uses metal or porcelain frameworks with wings bonded to the back of the teeth.
- Cantilever Bridge
When there is a natural tooth on only one side of the gap, the pontic is anchored through a single crown on this natural tooth. It is worth mentioning that the cantilever bridge is no longer in use.
- Implant-Supported Bridge
This type of bridge uses an implant for every missing tooth embedded into the jawbone during a single procedure. The bridge is placed over the pontics for a later process.
Dental Bridge Appointment in Townsville, QLD, Australia
A gap in your teeth can affect your oral health and smile. Let My Family Dental QLD help you get the proper dental bridge to restore your speech, smile, and confidence. Our dentists will determine the type of bridge that is right for you after looking at your teeth and your current state of health.
You can schedule a dental bridge consultation at My Family Dental QLD by calling or messaging us online!
