Many have heard of dental bridges, but not all of us know exactly what they are. They sound kind of like they’re false teeth, while this is a little true, it’s not the whole picture.
Instead, a dental bridge is a false tooth or a set of false teeth that are fused between dental crowns to fill in the areas left by missing teeth. In many ways, it’s similar to partial dentures in that it only replaces some of your teeth, but unlike partials, these bridges cannot be removed.
Bridges also do more than just help your overall appearance. They can reduce the risk of gum disease, correct some bite problems, and improve speech. As an added bonus, bridges often last at least ten years.
Dental Bridge Procedure
Your dentist will place your bridge and crowns all at the same time. So before this happens, the dentist will need to make a model of your mouth in order to make custom false teeth. The first step, however, is to remove a bit of your enamel around the teeth that surround the empty space to account for the thickness of the upcoming crowns. Don’t worry; a light anesthesia will be used before this part of the process.
Once the impressions are made, the dentist will give you a temporary bridge to wear while your permanent bridge is getting made at a laboratory. This temporary bridge will help protect your “shaved” teeth and your gums from the missing teeth.
At the second appointment, the dentist will remove your temporary bridge and fit you with your new permanent bridge. The bridge will be adjusted to help you have the most comfortable bite–or help you develop a corrected bite! When you and your dentist are happy with the fit, the dentist will bond the bridge to your teeth.
If you think you need a bridge over partial dentures, contact your cosmetic dentist to see how a dental bridge can improve your smile!