Exploring Dental Bridges: Bridging the Gap for a Complete Smile
Enjoying a meal pain-free or even smiling confidently can be challenging when missing teeth. In the U.S., an estimated 120 million people are missing one or more teeth, which can impact a person’s appearance, ability to eat and speak, and overall self-image. Dental bridges offer a practical and aesthetically pleasing solution to restoring your smile and oral functionality.
Why Restore Your Smile with Dental Bridges?
Filling in the gaps where your natural teeth once stood can have many advantages, including:
- Restored Functionality – Bridges can help your ability to speak and chew properly.
- Aesthetic Improvement – Filling empty gaps in the mouth with false teeth can improve the look of your smile.
- Durability – Dental bridges are known for their effectiveness and longevity when properly maintained.
- Shift Prevention – A bridge can prevent neighboring teeth from shifting, resulting in alignment issues.
Common Types of Dental Bridges
The type of dental bridge you need will depend on several factors, such as where the gap is located in the mouth and the overall condition of neighboring teeth. The most common types of bridges include:
Traditional Bridges
Traditional bridges consist of a false tooth, a pontic, anchored by crowns to adjacent natural teeth. This type of dental bridge is best suited for patients with adjacent natural teeth that can support crowns.
Cantilever Bridges
A cantilever dental bridge is a bridge with a pontic supported by a crown only on one side rather than two crowns on either side of the gap. Cantilever bridges are suitable for patients with only one neighboring tooth available for support.
Maryland Bridges
Maryland bridges are constructed of a false tooth attached to a porcelain or metal framework. The framework is then securely bonded to the backside of adjacent teeth. This type of bridge is often recommended when a patient’s adjacent teeth are healthy and don’t require any extensive reshaping.
Implant-Supported Bridges
Similar to how dental implants are used to support false teeth, such as crowns and dentures, an implant-supported dental bridge is supported by dental implants rather than natural teeth, creating a more stable foundation. Implant-supported bridges are ideal for patients with missing multiple teeth and who desire a long-term solution that won’t negatively affect adjacent teeth.
Who’s a Good Candidate for Dental Bridges?
You may be a good candidate for a dental bridge if:
- You have healthy teeth and gums that can support a bridge or implant.
- You have sufficient tooth structure for anchoring a traditional or cantilever bridge.
- If choosing an implant-supported bridge, you have enough bone density to support an implant.
- You can maintain good oral hygiene and make regular visits to the dentist.
Find Out If Dental Bridges are Right for You
Dental bridges offer an excellent way to restore the function and beauty of your smile. To learn more about dental bridges or alternatives to achieving a complete smile, contact Vero Elite Dentistry today at 772.569.9700.