Despite your efforts to maintain oral health, you will likely lose at least a few teeth during your lifetime. The impact of a missing tooth varies depending on the location of the gap. You can find it challenging to chew, eat, and speak, and if you have a front tooth missing, it can affect your smile, confidence, and facial appearance. A bridge bridges the gap; at least one false tooth sits in the space in the mouth. While most patients with a gap could qualify for the procedure, a skilled dentist should assess your suitability. Please continue reading this blog post to learn when you require dental bridges.

Defining Dental Bridges

A bridge is a prosthesis that fills a gap formed when you have a missing tooth or teeth.

The dental procedure consists of fitting teeth on each side of the gap using dental crowns to hold them. These reinforcing teeth are referred to as abutment teeth. During the procedure, a dentist will fix a pontic (a fake tooth) into your gap and bond the tooth to your surrounding teeth on both sides.

The dental bridge is mainly made of ceramic, porcelain, zirconia (a ceramic that serves the same as metal), or metal and stays fixed in the mouth. In other words, you do not have to extract the tooth as you would with dentures.

Who Is Eligible to Receive Dental Bridges?

Bridges help your oral and general health. Nevertheless, the dentist might have to evaluate you to ascertain your suitability for bridges.

The dental care professional will consider the following:

  1. Your Overall Health

Excellent overall health has a significant influence on whether you should receive bridges. If you have poor overall health, dental bridges could lead to complications. That means bridges are not appropriate if you suffer from periodontal disease, gingivitis, or other infections.

Moreover, the bridges could cause damage and bruising to your gums as you adjust to using them.

  1. Missing Teeth

The missing teeth must be close to each other to place the new replacement teeth in a dental bridge. When fused, the teeth fill the gaps in your mouth.

The doctor could remove some teeth during the procedure to create room for the dental bridge. Nevertheless, this rarely happens, but it could occur if the existing teeth also have irreversible damage.

Missing teeth are the main foundational factor of an appropriate candidate. Nevertheless, doctors consider other things when evaluating if you are a suitable candidate for bridges.

  1. Good Dental Hygiene

Good oral health hygiene is crucial for individuals considering bridges. It will keep the teeth strong and the gums healthy. Consequently, your bridge will have sufficient support, allowing you comfort as you utilize it daily.

Proper oral hygiene involves flossing and brushing your teeth two times a day. Nevertheless, it should not stop there. You must also make regular dental visits and be mindful of what you eat and drink. Avoid sticky, chewy, or hard-to-bite candy because these can hurt your teeth and dental bridges, and if not addressed, they could lead to tooth damage and loss. Eat natural foods that aid in maintaining your teeth's health.

  1. Good Dental Health

Your oral health is essential when getting bridges. Your gums, teeth, and jawbone must be healthy because they should support your bridge. Your jaw should be dense, and the supporting teeth should be strong. They also need to be cavity-free.

Patients with reduced jawbones might need a bone grafting dental procedure before obtaining bridges. They should also wait until the treatment site fully heals to prevent irritation of the gums.

Various Kinds of Dental Bridges

Bridges are available in different types, including:

  1. Maryland Bonded Bridges

Maryland bridges have minimal alteration of adjacent teeth, with the pontic attaching its two little wings to the surrounding teeth. To fix this type of dental bridge, your dental care provider will need to micro-etch the reinforcing teeth, creating a stronger bond for the restoration.

Previously, the wings were metallic and led to a grayish tint to a patient’s smile. However, currently, Maryland-bonded bridges are created with resin wings.

You can work with your dentist to ensure the bridges blend with the color of the surrounding teeth. The dental care professional can also use Maryland bridges to replace a single or several missing teeth.

  1. Traditional Bridges

Traditional bridges are the most typical kind of bridge. Your dentist can use them if your natural teeth surround your missing tooth on every side. These bridges consist of a pontic tooth or teeth supported by two artificial teeth called abutments fitted with dental crowns to hold the artificial teeth.

Traditional bridges are mainly manufactured from porcelain or ceramic fused to metal. They are strong enough to replace molars.

The major disadvantage of traditional bridges is the removal of tooth enamel. Because enamel removal is irreversible, your teeth will always require crown protection, even if you receive a different type of bridge in the future.

  1. Implant-Supported Dental Bridges

Implant-supported bridges are identical to traditional bridges. However, implants support them instead of your adjacent teeth. Dentists use them when a patient has more than three missing teeth in a row.

They are more durable, stronger, and withstand more significant bite pressure than traditional bridges.

You Are Self-Conscious of Your Smile

Losing a tooth can result in neighboring teeth shifting towards the gap. It can create an aesthetic problem for your smile; teeth that were once straight become crooked and misaligned.

A gorgeous smile is necessary for boosting confidence and making a first impression. If you are self-conscious about missing teeth, bridges provide a transformative solution. They are a durable and effective solution for filling gaps in your smile, leaving you with a natural-looking and complete set of teeth.

With a wide range of styles and materials, you can customize your bridges to match the shape and color of the existing teeth, ensuring a seamless blend with the natural smile. Your doctor should offer skilled craftsmanship and guidance that creates a beautiful smile.

You Want to Prevent Gum Disease, Among Other Health Issues

The longer you take to replace the missing tooth, the higher your likelihood of developing gum disease. The gap is a gateway for bacteria to enter the gums. The bacteria can eventually cause gum disease (gum inflammation), promoting tooth loss, bone loss, and loose teeth.

Gum disease is related to other severe health conditions like cancer, cardiovascular diseases, Alzheimer’s, and diabetes.

You Want to Regain Your Teeth Functionality for Health Bite and Speech Clarity

Your dental bridge can be instrumental in restoring your teeth’s functionality by filling the missing gaps. A missing tooth could disrupt the bite, affecting your bite, hindering you from chewing food effectively, and potentially leading to further dental health problems. Replacing this gap could help you maintain proper bite alignment and avoid strain on nearby teeth by preventing them from shifting out of their positions. It boosts your eating ability and the health of your gums and existing teeth. Effective chewing is paramount for digestion and overall health.

A missing tooth could impact speech clarity, causing difficulty pronouncing particular words and sounds. A dental bridge ensures the teeth remain functional and even and maintains proper articulation. That way, you can restore your natural speech patterns and boost your confidence and self-esteem, both professionally and socially. 

You Want to Boost Your Facial Structure and Appearance

On top of losing your teeth’s functionality, missing teeth can result in facial structure changes over time. The absence of tooth roots can cause bone resorption and the shrinking of your jawbone. Consequently, this causes a sunken look, facial contour alterations, and premature aging.

Getting dental bridges stimulates your jawbone and preserves your facial structure. It prevents hollowing and sagging related to tooth loss, restoring your face’s natural shape and promoting a gorgeous, youthful look.

You are Looking for a Pocket-Friendly Dental Treatment

Bridges could be suitable for you if you are on a tight budget.

Typically, a dental bridge in America costs between $1,500 and $16,000. The average price of a traditional and implant-supported bridge is $2,500 and $5,500, respectively.

The overall price depends mainly on the following factors:

  • The number of missing teeth — You will incur more if your bridges replace at least one tooth.
  • Your type of dental bridge — Implant-supported bridges are the most expensive.
  • The material the dentist used for your fake teeth — Porcelain is the most popular because it looks like natural teeth. Nevertheless, it is more costly than other materials.
  • The kind of work your dentist should do on the supporting teeth — If the supporting tooth is damaged or decayed, the dentist will first treat that tooth. That will increase the money in the overall estimate.
  • Other associated costs, including tooth extraction, oral examination, professional cleaning, local anesthesia, and dental imaging.

Bridges might not be the cheapest option, but they cost relatively less than alternative tooth replacement procedures like implants. The cost is lower because you do not require extensive preparation or surgery, making it ideal if you cannot afford a dental implant.

Bridges are restorative, and doctors consider them medically essential. Therefore, most insurance companies cover them.

How much you pay out of pocket will depend mainly on your health plan. Most private dental coverage caters for half the price of the procedure. Nevertheless, the plan’s maximum lifetime benefit or maximum annual benefit applies. You will pay the outstanding balance if the covered cost surpasses the plan’s maximum benefit.

You are Seeking a Durable Solution for Your Missing Tooth

On average, the lifespan of a dental bridge is five to fifteen years. Some can last even longer with proper maintenance and care.

Caring for fixed bridges requires practicing good dental hygiene, like natural teeth. It entails:

  • Brushing and flossing daily.
  • Using a nonabrasive toothpaste.
  • Avoiding hard and sticky foods.
  • Avoiding sugary foods and beverages.
  • Avoid using your teeth as tools.
  • Visiting your dentist regularly for dental checkups and cleanings.

You should remove plaque and food particles daily to care for your removable dental bridges. Here are steps on how to go about it:

  1. Clean the bridge over a folded towel or a sink of water to prevent it from breaking should it fall.
  2. Use a denture brush or soft-bristled tooth and cold water to brush your replacement teeth.
  3. Next, rinse using clean, cool water.
  4. Do not leave the bridge in the water overnight unless your dentist advises you otherwise. The metallic attachments on the removable bridge could rust.

You Want a Quick Dental Procedure

The dental procedure only requires two appointments.

The first step in getting a dental bridge involves assessing the need for a restorative dental procedure to replace the missing teeth. Your dentist will examine the area and conduct diagnostic imaging of your jaw to comprehend the situation and decide accordingly.

During the initial appointment, your doctor will:

  1. Administer local anesthesia to ensure your comfort during the treatment.
  2. Reshape the abutment tooth by removing some enamel. (The phase is irreversible.)
  3. Take your dental impressions and take them to a lab. A technician will utilize the impression to make the permanent bridge.
  4. Place your temporary bridge until the technician creates the bridge. It can take up to a month to make the bridge.

After the technician delivers the final bridge, your skilled dentist will schedule your second appointment, where they will:

  1. Remove the temporary bridge.
  2. Test the final dental bridge and confirm whether it fits.
  3. Cement (bond) the bridge in place.

Some professionals utilize computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) technology to create custom dental bridges in their dental offices in one visit. Inquire from your dentist whether it is possible in your case.

Find a Skilled Restorative Dentist Near Me

Dental bridges are the prosthetic replacement of missing teeth, anchored by near teeth on every side. They assist in maintaining the mouth's functionality and structure and preventing your teeth from shifting. If you believe dental bridges might be your most suitable treatment option, please contact Northridge Advanced Dentistry at 818-701-3010. Our trained and knowledgeable dental team can schedule your no-obligation initial consultation to discuss your dental goals. We are dedicated to restoring your quality of life and oral health through treatment that best suits your budget, health, preferences, and personal goals. That is why we can review your treatment options during your appointment and answer all your questions.