There are many factors that can cause you to lose your teeth. It could be normal wear and tear, poor dental hygiene habits, gum disease, severe tooth decay, infection or trauma. Whatever the reason why you lost your teeth the good news is that this can be fixed by wearing dental bridges. Dental bridge not only restores your smile but it also helps improve your oral health. Let’s learn more about this popular tooth replacement treatment and more specific for dentist kenosha cosmetics that will evaluate the condition of your teeth and gums .
What Is A Dental Bridge?
As the name implies, a dental bridge functions as a literal bridge that closes the gap caused by the missing teeth. A bridge comprises of two or more dental crowns for the teeth on each side of the teeth gap. The teeth that are in this position are coined abutment teeth and in between them are the false or artificial teeth. The artificial teeth positioned between the abutment teeth are coined pontics. Pontics can be made of porcelain, alloys, gold or a combination of these materials. In order for the dental bridge to stay in place it needs to be anchored by dental implants or natural teeth.
Who Are Good Candidates for A Dental Bridge?
Who are considered good candidates for dental bridges? The most important requirement is that you have two healthy and stable teeth on each side of the tooth gap. Not only should your teeth be healthy but the tooth roots must also be strong and securely in place. Individuals who have problematic teeth that would require a root canal treatment in the future are not considered good candidates for a dental bridge since there is a possibility that their teeth could get infected or that their teeth may eventually lose its strength.
If the patient does not have healthy teeth adjacent to the gap, they can receive dental implants prior to getting the dental bridge. However, it is also important that they are eligible for the procedure for it to be successful. Your cosmetic dentist kenosha WI – will evaluate the condition of your gums and your jawbone. These two must be in good condition to receive the implants otherwise you will not be considered good candidates for dental implants. It usually takes weeks or months for you to receive your dental implants since the healing period could take this long depending on the patient.
What Are the Benefits of a Dental Bridge?
There are numerous benefits to wearing a dental bridge. Here are some of the many benefits that you will you experience once your smile is restored.
Brand New Smile
Admit it, even losing a single tooth is going to affect your smile. With a dental bridge, artificial teeth will fill in the gap thereby restoring your smile. A lot of patients who received dental bridges say that they felt more confident and that their new smile helped boost their self-esteem. Say goodbye to your insecurities because a dental bridge can fix that.
Improved Chewing Ability
When you’ll lose a tooth or several teeth your chewing ability will be compromised and you will find that eating hard and chewy foods will be difficult if not painful. Your remaining teeth moving into the open space is often the cause of the pain. Gum damage can also result as food debris accumulates in the hallow socket of your lost tooth. To prevent pain, we recommend that you replace the missing tooth with a dental bridge. When your dental bridge in in place you will no longer be in pain and your chewing ability will be restored.
Improved Speech
One of the things you’ll notice when you’re wearing a dental bridge is that your speech will improve. You see, your teeth play an important role in how you speak. Anyone who loses multiple teeth will struggle to pronounce certain words and they speak with a lisp. You will not experience any of these once you’re missing teeth are replaced.
Restore the Shape of Your Face
Tooth loss not only deprives you of a beautiful smile but it will also affect the shape of your face as a result of jawbone deterioration. Your tooth roots are important and they play a crucial role in stimulating the bone cells of your jaw. When you lose several teeth there will no longer be stimulation and as a result your jawbone will begin to deteriorate. When bone loss becomes so severe it can result to further tooth loss and when this happens your face will collapse affecting its shape.
Stops Teeth from Shifting Out of Place
Your teeth are secured in their position because of the tooth roots underneath them but are you aware that the teeth nearby also keep them in place? When you lose several teeth, you will start to notice that the rest of your remaining teeth will begin to move and shift toward the gap. In order to prevent your teeth from shifting you need something to block them and keep them in place and that’s the job of a dental bridge. Without a dental bridge, the teeth could move and become loose and eventually you will start losing more teeth.
What Are the Different Types of Dental Bridges?
There are four types of dental bridges – traditional, cantilever, Maryland and implant-supported dental bridge.
Traditional Dental Bridge
In a traditional dental bridge, the artificial teeth or pontics are anchored in place by dental crowns and these dental crowns are attached to each of the abutment teeth. This is by far the most popular dental bridge. It’s ideal for individuals who have natural teeth on both sides of the tooth gap.
Cantilever Dental Bridge
Cantilever dental bridge is more or less the same as traditional dental bridge. However, what makes this different is that in a cantilever dental bridge a dental crown is only attached to a single abutment tooth. For you to be eligible, you only need to have one natural tooth adjacent to the missing tooth.
Maryland Dental Bridge
A Maryland dental bridge is just the same as a traditional bridge, which means it requires two natural abutment teeth one on every side of the tooth gap. What makes them different is that in a traditional dental bridge it makes use of dental crowns to be placed on the abutment teeth. Meanwhile, a Maryland bridge utilizes a metal or a porcelain framework that is attached to the posterior part of the abutment teeth. Furthermore, just like the traditional dental bridge, this type of dental bridge can only be used when there is the availability of a natural tooth on both sides of the gap.
Implanted Supported Dental Bridge
In this type of dental bridge, instead of natural teeth and metal or porcelain frameworks they are supported by dental implants. Basically, one dental implant is placed for a single missing tooth and they hold the bridge in place. However, if a single dental implant for every missing tooth is not possible then a bridge can have a pontic placed in between two dental implant-supported crowns.
This is by far the strongest of all systems because it consists of two separate surgeries. One, the implant is embedded into the jawbone and two, the placement of the dental bridge. This takes months to complete.
How Much Do Dental Bridges Cost?
The cost of dental bridges is not the same and there are numerous factors that could influence the price. Examples of these factors include the number of teeth that are needed to fill the teeth gap, the type of materials used like metal alloy covered in resin, zirconia or composite resin, the difficulty or the complexity of the placement, any other additional dental treatments needed and the geographical location of the clinic.
It will also depend on the type of bridge you choose. For example, if you opt to get a traditional bridge or a cantilever bridge it will typically cost you around $2000 to $5000 for a single pontic and a crown for every abutment tooth. For a Maryland bridge, it will usually cost you around $1500 to $2500 for every pontic with a metal or porcelain framework bonded to the abutment teeth. An implant-supported dental bridge is going to cost around $5000 to $15,000 with two dental implants that will span three to four teeth.
How Long Does It Last?
A dental bridge can last up to 5 to 15 years and sometimes longer as long as the patient regularly shows up for dental checkups and if he or she practices good oral hygiene this means brushing and flossing the teeth twice a day for at least two minutes. It’s also advised that you gargle with an antibacterial mouthwash to freshen your breath.
What Can I Expect Once I Start Wearing Them?
As soon as you start wearing your dental bridge regardless of the type, you will instantly notice the changes. One of the immediate effects of wearing them is your smile will be restored. You will also notice a dramatic improvement in the way you chew and speak. However, until you have fully adjusted to your dental bridge, we recommend that you consume soft foods or cut foods into smaller bite-sized pieces.
If you have any questions that are not addressed here your dentist will be able to answer them to give you clarity.