The Ins and Outs of a Dental Bridge in Palmetto Bay
A dental bridge is a structure that replaces one or up to four missing teeth. It consists of two parts; crowns and pontics. The pontics are the missing teeth you are replacing, and the crowns hold those replacement teeth (pontics) in place. The crowns connect to healthy teeth or dental implants on either side of the pontics. Essentially, your dental bridge “bridges the gap” between healthy teeth.
USE IMAGE OF A DENTAL BRIDGE
Are you self-conscious about your smile and want a quick tooth replacement? A dental bridge can help. It looks and feels like natural teeth and replaces most of a natural tooth’s function. Call (305) 253-7670 or make an appointment online.
Benefits of a Dental Bridge
- Look like natural teeth
- Feel like natural teeth
- Help you look younger
- Long-lasting; made of a durable advanced ceramic material
- Permanently in your mouth
- Doesn’t require surgery
- Almost anyone can get a dental bridge
- Available for those who can’t get dental implants
Drawbacks
Dental bridges are a great option for many people. However, there are some drawbacks that still may make dental implants the better option for those who can get them.
- They don’t replace your tooth root
One of the benefits of a dental implant is that it replaces the entire tooth—the crown and the tooth root. A dental bridge only replaces the visible part of your tooth. That means you don’t have a tooth root that stimulates your jawbone. Jawbone stimulation is important because it helps you keep your face shape. - Dental bridges aren’t as secure as a dental implant
These are permanent teeth replacements, but they aren’t as secure as a dental implant because they rely on adjacent teeth instead of your jawbone for security. - The more teeth you need replaced, the less secure it will be
The more teeth (pontics) between each crown, the less secure it may become. This concept is similar to a structural bridge for cars; the longer the bridge, the more stability it will need. On a bridge for cars, they handle this with posts going to the ground throughout the length of the bridge. In a dental bridge, you can’t provide stability between the crowns. - May cause damage to existing teeth
A bridge uses the teeth on either side of it for stability. This means that the biting and chewing pressure on those teeth is actually transferred to the adjacent teeth. So all of the other teeth in your mouth take more pressure than they’re made to handle, especially the two that stabilize the bridge. - May require crowns on healthy teeth
In most cases, you’ll be putting crowns on healthy teeth when you get a dental bridge. This means reducing the size of one of your healthy, natural teeth and decreasing its integrity. The best time to get this restoration is when the adjacent teeth already need a crown or if you anchor it with dental implants.
When is a Dental Bridge Right For You?
Is a dental bridge right for you? It very well may be your best choice! To be a candidate, you must;
- Be missing or soon to be missing one to four teeth
- Be free of gum disease and tooth decay (if not, we can treat your gum disease)
- Have good oral hygiene
With that said, there are two scenarios where dental implants are a great option:
Scenario One
You’ve been in an accident, and you lost two teeth in a row, and the teeth on either side are broken. This is a great time for a bridge because you’ll need crowns on the two broken teeth anyway. You can use those crowns to anchor your bridge.
Scenario Two
You will soon lose four teeth due to tooth decay and gum disease. After clearing the decay and gum disease, you have four missing teeth. This is a good time for a dental bridge, too. We’ll place a dental implant on both of the outside missing teeth and then anchor the bridge to the implants to replace the middle two missing teeth.
How to Get a Dental Bridge in Palmetto Bay
The process of getting a dental bridge will take only two to four weeks. Your restorative dentist, Dr. Naranjo or Dr. Testar, will perform an examination of your mouth, teeth, gums, and jaw. If they find any evidence of gum disease or other damage, they’ll treat that first before proceeding with your dental bridge. If they need to do any extractions, they’ll do it at this time.
We may make other recommendations if we feel that other tooth replacement options are best for your situation. However, the choice is always yours.
Your Palmetto Bay dentists will take impressions of your teeth and send the impressions to the lab where your bridge is made. While you wait for your permanent bridge, we’ll fit you with a temporary one so you can have a beautiful smile while you wait.
Replace Your Missing Teeth with a Dental Bridge in Palmetto Bay, FL
If you’re missing teeth (or will be soon) and think that a dental bridge is the best tooth replacement option for you, call our dental office at (305) 253-7670 or make an appointment online. Our Palmetto Bay restorative dentists can give you the full and functioning smile you deserve.
