What Are Types of Dental Bridge and Which Is Useful for You?

If you have gaps between your teeth because of extensive tooth decay or injuries, you may want to consider tooth replacement solutions to bridge the blank space. Dental bridges are an excellent option for anyone with missing teeth except for some people.

If you intend to bridge the gap between your teeth, you must contact the dentist near you requesting an assessment to determine whether a dental bridge is the best option for your mouth. In some cases, alternative restorative dental treatments are more appropriate, including dental implants and crowns.

The dentist near you will examine the area of the missing tooth, take x-rays of your jaw to understand your situation, and decide on the best option. Dentists discuss the available options with patients, including the bridge’s type and design to make the patient understand the benefits and downsides of every alternative.

Types of Dental Bridges Currently Available

As the name suggests, dental bridges serve as a type of bridge helping to fill gaps between your teeth caused by missing teeth. Dental bridges consist of many components, including dental crowns and an artificial tooth.

There are many types of dental bridges you can have. They are:

• Traditional dental bridges.
• Cantilever bridges.
• Maryland bridges.
• Implant-supported bridges.

Traditional dental bridges are the most popular and recommended by dental bridges in Covington. Implant-supported bridges are also an option considered by many people. Cantilever and Maryland dental bridges are alternatives that aren’t as popular. Locating dentists who perform the traditional bridge procedures or place implant-supported bridges is not challenging. However, few dentists among many offer these treatment options because they lack the experience needed to manage them. Suppose you intend to have the gaps in your mouth bridged. In that case, you can help yourself by contacting family dentistry Covington experienced dental professionals providing any dental bridge you want.

What Are the Benefits of Dental Bridges?

If you decide to have traditional dental bridges, the most popular option available, you benefit from the following advantages:

• Traditional dental bridges are a non-removable treatment option for your missing teeth. The bridges don’t need removal for cleaning and remain in your mouth for years.
• Traditional bridges remain in your mouth for 10 to 15 years before needing replacements.
• The bridges strengthen the surrounding teeth.
• Traditional bridges help maintain the shape and structure of your face.
• Closing the gap in your mouth boosts your confidence by restoring your smile.
• As an alternative for implants, the traditional bridge placement process is not lengthy and completed in a couple of visits to the creative dentistry of Covington.

The Procedure for Getting Dental Bridges Placed

The procedure for having dental bridges placed to replace your missing teeth is relatively easy but not without some discomfort.

When starting the procedure, you receive local anesthesia from Dr. Michael A Thomas to ensure you don’t feel any pain during the process. After your mouth is entirely numb, the dentist will prepare your surrounding teeth by filing them down. The filing is extensive to accommodate dental crowns as abutments on them. The dental crowns serve as the supporting teeth for the artificial pontic filling the blank space.

The dentist takes impressions of the prepared tooth to having your dental crowns and pontic customized from a dental laboratory. You receive temporary bridges over the prepared teeth for protection. You must wait for two to three weeks for the dental lab to return your permanent restoration. After that, you can schedule another appointment for the final dental bridge placement.

Permanent Bridge Placement

After you schedule your second comment for permanent bridge placement, you again receive local anesthesia to ensure your appointment is not uncomfortable. Before placing the permanent bridge, the dentist removes the temporary bridge and cleans the prepared teeth. After that, dental cement helps the dentist fix the dental bridge in place of the abutment teeth. You can then see the results and experience what it feels like biting the teeth together gently. The dental bridge will feel unfamiliar initially, but the feeling quickly wears off. You may need final adjustments to the placement in some cases.

Follow-Up after Final Bridge Placement

After the dental bridge placement procedure, you follow-up with the dentist and diligently must adhere to the dentist’s after-care instructions. The dentist provides specific instructions on how to clean around and under the dental bridge. You must follow the recommended practices and seek dental advice every six months for exams and cleanings.