Fixed Bridges

Who needs a dental bridge?

Dental bridges can help if you have a missing tooth or teeth. The most common causes of missing teeth are tooth decay, gum disease and injury. Or you may have been born with missing teeth due to a congenital condition. To get a dental bridge, you need healthy teeth on either side of the missing ones.

Why do I need a dental bridge?

Your teeth work together. If a tooth is missing, nearby teeth can move into the empty space. The teeth in your opposite jaw can also move up or down toward the space. This can cause:

• Bite problems.
• Chewing difficulties.
• Pain from the extra stress on your teeth and jaw.
• Self-consciousness about the way you look or your smile.

What does a dental bridge look like?

A typical dental bridge has:

• Abutment teeth: A dental professional places two crowns on the teeth on either side of the gap. These anchoring teeth, or supporting teeth, can be your natural teeth or dental implants.
• Pontics: This false tooth (or teeth) fills in the gap and attaches to the crowns.

What types of dental bridges are available?

The four main types of bridges are:

•Traditional fixed bridge: This bridge is the most common. It has two or more crowns and a filler tooth or teeth that are all connected. The crowns keep the bridge in place. Traditional bridges are made of metal, porcelain fused to metal, or ceramics.

•Cantilever bridge: In this bridge type, the pontic connects to only one abutment tooth. This can sometimes be an option for people who have teeth on only one side of the gap.

•Maryland dental bridge (resin-bonded bridge): You may have this type of bridge if you have missing front teeth. It’s made of porcelain fused to metal or ceramic teeth, supported by a framework. Wings on each side of the bridge bond to your existing teeth.

•Implant supported bridge: This bridge is similar to a “traditional fixed bridge” but instead of being cemented in place to teeth, it is held in place by implants.

What happens during a procedure for a traditional dental bridge?

You’ll typically need at least two appointments:

Abutment teeth preparation: During your first visit, your healthcare provider reshapes the abutment teeth. They’ll remove part of the enamel and dentin, so there’s room for the crown.

Impressions: Your provider takes impressions or a digital scan of your teeth. A dental laboratory uses the mold or scan as a model to create your bridge, false teeth and crowns. You’ll have a temporary bridge to protect the exposed areas in your mouth while the lab makes your bridge.

Permanent bridge placement: During your second visit, your provider removes the temporary bridge and places the permanent bridge. Your provider will carefully check the bridge and make any needed adjustments to make sure it fits you comfortably.

What are the advantages of this procedure?

A dental bridge can:

• Aesthetically, a dental bridge can compensate for the loss of the original teeth, particularly if the bridge is closely matched in color to the surrounding teeth. This can help to improve self-esteem and confidence in patients who are uncomfortable about their appearance with missing teeth.
• In terms of function, the bridge allows a patient to chew and eat normally as there is no longer a gap in the jaw and the bridge can assist with the mastication of food. It can also help individuals to speak without inhibition, filling the gap in the teeth which may alter the placement of the tongue and the way sounds are made in the mouth.
• It prevents your remaining teeth from shifting which causes problem in your bite.
• It reduces the risk of bone loss thus maintaining the structures of your face.
• Help your bite.
• Prevent remaining teeth from moving out of place.
• Restore your ability to chew and speak.
• Restore your smile.

Do dental bridges have any risks or complications?

If you care for your bridge properly, it can last many years without complications. The bridge may fail if the surrounding teeth decay or if the cement deteriorates. If the bridge comes loose and the supporting teeth are still healthy and intact, your provider may be able to re-attach it with new cement.

How long do dental bridges last?

Dental bridges can last at least five to seven years. With good oral hygiene and regular professional cleanings, the bridge may last more than 10 years.

Is it hard to eat with a dental bridge?

People often find the opposite is true — replacing the missing teeth makes it easier to eat. You may prefer to eat soft foods cut into small pieces until you get used to the bridge.

Will the dental bridge change how I speak?

If you are missing front teeth, it can be hard to speak clearly. A dental bridge with front teeth in the right place can improve your speech.

How do I care for my dental bridge?

The success of the dental bridge depends on the health and strength of the remaining teeth. With a bridge, it’s especially important to prevent tooth decay and gum disease that can lead to tooth loss. For proper tooth and gum care, you should:

Brush twice a day and floss daily: A dental professional can show you the right way to brush and floss. You will probably use a special type of floss called a threader that lets you slide the floss between the bridge and your gum.

Get regular professional cleanings: Seeing a dental provider regularly can help detect problems early, when treatment is more successful.

Eat a balanced diet: Include plenty of fruits, vegetables and fiber and try to limit chewy, fibrous foods like some meats

Is zirconia bridge better or porcelain?

Zirconia crown is a better choice than other materials because of its numerous advantages. Unlike zirconia crown, a porcelain crown is not as strong, durable and long-lasting.

What are the 5 most common types of dental bridges?

1. Traditional Bridges:

Traditional bridges are the most popular types of dental bridges for restoring lost teeth. They can be used when you have natural teeth or implants on either side of the space left by your missing tooth.

They are usually small, lightweight and provide excellent chewing comfort, by redistributing your normal bite force compromised by your missing teeth.

If your hygiene and home care is maintained at a optimum level this type of bridge can last a long time.

The primary downside of traditional bridges is that enough enamel will need to be cut and removed from your abutment teeth to make room for the crowns. Therefore, since enamel doesn’t regenerate itself, the abutment tooth/ teeth will always need to be protected by well fitted crowns. Their care, vitality and stability is mandatory for the long term life of your bridge.

2. Cantilever Bridges:

This cantilever bridge is used when there is only one anchor tooth available to support the missing tooth or teeth. This bridge design is not recommended for use in the back of the mouth where too much bite force can be put on the abutment tooth. But it can work if it’s designed well and if the cantilevered tooth is the front tooth. The biting forces must be considered in the design which can be done by a good lab, making these types of dental bridges a valuable option when trying to save time and money.

3. Maryland Bridges:

This type of bridge is a winged bridge known for its conservative nature. These types of dental bridges are often referred to as a resin bonded bridge. Basically they’re designed with plastic teeth with similar gum material which is fortified by a metal frame.

Metal attachments located on opposing sides are bonded to existing anchor teeth. This special resin bonded form of bridge work is mainly used on front teeth, in cases where the adjoining teeth are still in stable condition.

The overwhelming benefit to these types of dental bridges is that your dentist will only need to make a minimal adjustment to the contour of the abutment teeth. The treatment is cost effective and relatively efficient compared to what it takes to design a traditional fixed bridge. As great as this Maryland bridge option is, a good assessment of your bite will be necessary to determine if it’s a viable option. Deep bites or cross bites are contraindicated for Maryland bridges.

The metal attachments on Maryland bridges tend to discolor which causes the abutment teeth to become darker over time, their also known to have a proclivity towards debonding. These types of dental bridges are often seen as temporary replacement appliances. There often used in the interim while your implant is healing, or if you are under 18 and you’re awaiting for your growth cycle to finish before installing an implant.

4. Composite Bridge (Ribbond or just bonded composite):

For people with one or two missing teeth who are looking for an easy and affordable solution to their replacement issue, a composite bridge often fills the bill. There usually made and installed in one dental visit, in which a composite bonding material (which is the plastic tooth filling material) is placed directly into the missing space.

Patience is a virtue and a work of art when recreating a missing tooth with a composite material. Furthermore, you must be very careful with this bridge because of the debonding and chipping qualities of the materials used in the design. A reinforced wire or ribbon known as Ribbond can be used to provide more strength to a composite bridge. Similar to Maryland bridges, composites are considered temporary and can be used by people with periodontal disease who put off removing their compromised teeth until the very end.

5. Implant Supported Bridges:

The implant supported bridge has been rising in popularity over the years, because there is normally no damage to the adjoining natural teeth. There is no support needed by trimmed down tooth stubs with crowns or bulky substructures, these types of dental bridges are supported exclusively by implants. This type of bridge allows adequate spacing for you to clean between the dental implants, and if integrated well there incredibly stable.

Putting too many implants together has proven to lead to major complications, including implant failures and rejections. The plaque that sticks to the surface of the dental implant then tunnels under the gums destroying previously healthy bone (a disease known as Peri-implantitis). It’s paramount that your implant supported bridge is designed, so you clean it well. With 2 implant supporting a bridges, it’s actually easier and more effective than having 3 implants in a row.

The amazing technological developments in implantology, products and procedures have made the use of implants nearly ideal for a one tooth replacement or multiple tooth bridge. Depending on the quality of your jaw bone, you may be eligible to replace your entire lower or upper arch with 4 – 6 strategically placed implants.