What is a Dental Bridge Procedure and When Do I Need One?

If you suffer from tooth loss and want to close the gap in your smile, then a dental bridge procedure might be for you. Here at Beyond Dental, we can offer different treatments to ensure that you get the smile of your dreams, and our dental bridge procedure may be the best-recommended treatment based on your individual circumstances. 

Understanding what a dental bridge procedure is and when you need one can be a question on your mind for many reasons and here, we are answering the questions centred around this treatment.

What is a Dental Bridge?

A dental bridge essentially bridges a gap that you have in your mouth, whether you lost a tooth recently through an accident or injury, have had a missing tooth for a while or even in the case that a tooth never grew to fill the gap. The dental bridge replaces the missing tooth and is bonded to the natural teeth on either side of the gap. A dental bridge procedure comes in two primary varieties. The most popular kind has a false tooth (pontics) in the centre and two crowns, either metal or porcelain, permanently bonded to your natural teeth on either side of the space.

You might be able to get an adhesive bridge if the teeth on either side of the missing tooth are stable and in good condition. An artificial tooth with “wings” on either side is called an adhesive bridge. The inner surfaces of the supporting teeth are fused to these wings. By doing this, full-coverage crowns can be fitted without the need to prepare the surrounding teeth.

When Do I Need a Dental Bridge?

There are several ways in which losing a tooth or teeth can impact your life. These alterations can be addressed by a dental bridge, including:

1. Giving you your smile back.
2. Recovering the ability to chew properly again.
3. Repairing your speech and pronunciation, keeping your facial structure intact, and repositioning your bite to evenly distribute the force of your chewing motion.
4. Ensure the remaining teeth remain in their proper positions.

Types of Dental Bridges

Traditional Dental Bridge Procedure

This is the most common type of dental bridge procedure used and consists of a dental crown or caps on both ends, with pontics in between. During this dental bridge procedure, your dentist would bond the crowns to your natural teeth on either side of the gap and the artificial tooth or teeth would fit perfectly in the middle of the gap. This is the most used treatment, as it’s the first choice if you’ve got strong, healthy teeth on either side of the gap. At Beyond Dental, we’re passionate about maintaining your current oral health where we can, ensuring that we’re looking after your natural teeth and smile every step of the way. 

Cantilever Dental Bridge Procedure

A cantilever bridge and a conventional bridge are comparable. However, there is only one crown—not two—on either end. So, the prosthetic tooth (pontic) “hangs over” or spans the space when your dentist bonds the bridge to your abutment tooth. When there is only one side of the gap where natural teeth are present, dentists will use cantilever bridges. However, cantilever bridges aren’t as strong as conventional dental bridge procedures because of how they are built. 

Implant-supported Bridge Procedure

An implant-supported bridge procedure is quite similar to a traditional dental bridge procedure, but it rests atop dental implants instead of natural teeth. Dental implants are small threaded posts that replace missing tooth roots. Before attaching the bridge to the dental implants, you need to wait until your dental implants are fully bonded and fused with your jawbone. 

How Do I Know Which Bridge I Need?

Here at Beyond Dental, you won’t need to worry about what specific dental bridge procedure you would need, we will consider several factors before giving you a full rundown of which treatment options are available and best suited for you.

• Your age.
• How many teeth are missing?
• The size of the gap.
• The condition of your teeth on opposite sides of the gap.
• Whether you have natural teeth or false teeth.
• The overall health of your teeth and gums.
• Your personal preferences.

What Are The Benefits Of Dental Bridge Procedures?

Less Invasive Than Dental Implants

While dental implants are a permanent solution, they come with recovery time and potential complications, and the treatment is considered to be more invasive. However, if you want it done and dusted, then dental implants might be for you. 

Long-lasting Solution

Dental bridge procedures only need to be replaced every 5-15 years without surgery. So this treatment is the best of both worlds; it’s not invasive and doesn’t need much ongoing maintenance.

Natural Appearance

Dental bridges provide a natural appearance and can go largely unnoticed in the mouth when you chew, smile or talk. 

Confidence Boost

For some people, fixing a gap in their teeth is more for cosmetic reasons than health reasons, and it’s amazing to have a very simple treatment that brings happiness and comfort back into your life.

Protects Your Remaining Teeth

By opting for a dental bridge procedure rather than leaving it, you are protecting your other teeth from potential harm. When you have gaps, your existing teeth might be pushed by food or just naturally move. This could affect the way you bite, which in turn can cause pain and discomfort.

Oral Health

Deciding to have a dental bridge is a personal decision, but it can be a great way to maintain optimal oral hygiene and ensure your daily dental hygiene routines are met with comfort and confidence.

Final Thoughts

You should book an appointment about your options for replacement teeth if you are missing one or more teeth. Dental bridges have a lot of advantages, but before choosing one, you should weigh a lot of factors. Get in touch with us today to book your consultation!