Dental bridges are ideal for replacing a missing tooth or occasionally multiple missing teeth. Dental bridges are restorations that help place an artificial tooth or multiple fake teeth neighbouring the natural teeth.
When you miss a tooth or multiple teeth, the appearance of your smile, oral health, and mouth functionality become a cause for concern. Dental bridges help restore the looks of your smile, with artificial teeth appearing and feeling like your natural teeth. In addition, the restorations prevent your facial features from sagging to make you appear older.
Most importantly, dental bridges prevent the shifting of your natural teeth that occurs when you have gaps between your smile. The movement can endanger your bite and make you susceptible to receiving orthodontic treatment to correct misalignment with your teeth. Crooked teeth are also challenging to clean and make you prone to dental infections like tooth decay and gum disease. Instead of inviting unwanted trouble on yourself, it helps if you consider getting dental bridges in Cambridge, ON, to cover the gaps in your mouth.
Why Consider Dental Bridges Than Other Options?
When considering replacements for a missing tooth or teeth, you have different options in the form of dentures and implants besides dental bridges. Although these restorative options have been around for quite some time, they have some downsides that you might consider if you decide to have them replace your missing teeth.
Although dentures are a time-tested solution for replacing missing teeth, they tend to shift and slip when talking or eating foods. Dentures also need adhesives or clasps to fasten to your neighbouring teeth and removal for cleaning every night.
If you want a more stable solution for replacing missing teeth, you can find none better than dental implants looking and functioning like your natural teeth. However, the dental implant procedure requires surgery and lengthy recovery before you can have an artificial tooth to close the gap in your smile. In addition, dental implants are the most expensive tooth replacement solution costing more than $ 6000 per tooth.
On the other hand, dental bridges are affordable. They can provide artificial teeth in a couple of appointments with the dentist in Cambridge to have a custom-created artificial tooth from dental grade porcelain to function as a substitute for your lost teeth. You can choose one of the different kinds of dental bridges the dentist provides after examining your mouth and recommending a solution best suited for your needs.
Kinds of Dental Bridges
If you need a single tooth bridge for a molar, the dentist suggests a traditional bridge with two dental crowns holding a Pontic or your artificial tooth between them. The dental crowns function as anchors for the Pontic that bridges the void between your teeth. Traditional bridges are lightweight and help redistribute biting forces evenly to provide excellent chewing comfort.
If missing a front tooth, the dentist suggests a Maryland bridge held by two natural supporting teeth adjacent to the void by metal or porcelain clasps.
You can also have implant-supported bridges if you desire a permanent solution for your missing teeth, remembering that you must go through an intensive procedure with considerable expenditure before you can get a replacement tooth.
Pros and Cons of Dental Bridges
Pros
- Natural Appearance and Functioning: Dental bridges allow you to fully restore the appearance, feeling, and functionality of your teeth. If missing teeth cause health concerns and aesthetic challenges, dental bridges help overcome the problems to revitalize your smile and make biting and chewing comfortable.
- Simple Non-Invasive Procedure: Some restorative solutions need multiple appointments with dentists and surgery before you can have replacements for your missing teeth. Fortunately, dental bridges require a straightforward process to provide missing teeth replacements in a couple of weeks, with more affordable than other options.
Cons
- Neighbouring Teeth Affected: Getting dental bridges requires tooth structure removal of the adjacent teeth for the placement of dental crowns over them to function as abutments. The tooth structure removal weakens the neighbouring teeth making them prone to damage later.
- Not As Natural As Dental Implants: As dental bridges are not embedded into the jawbone, they might not feel as natural as dental implants. However, they remain indistinguishable from the natural teeth in your mouth, making them an ideal option for replacing missing teeth.
- Might Require Replacement: Although dental bridges have a lifespan of five to 15 years, they might require replacement if the crowns on the adjacent teeth loosen or the tooth structure weakens.
Dental bridges have become the preferred replacement solution for missing teeth in many people unable to receive dental implants or reluctant to have dentures. If you want tooth replacement solutions with a natural-looking and feeling alternative, we suggest you visit Dental Art Clinics — Cambridge, requesting dental bridges and choosing an option the practice offers as replacements for your lost teeth.
