A missing tooth can diminish the appearance of a person's smile, make it more difficult to chew food, cause other teeth to shift out of position, create bite problems and even lead to challenges speaking. A fixed dental bridge may prevent or minimize these potential problems.
A fixed dental bridge is two or more crowned teeth on either side of a missing tooth with one or more false teeth between them. The crowned teeth, which can be natural teeth or implants, anchor the bridge and provide support. The false tooth or teeth can be made from a variety of materials, such as gold, alloys or porcelain, and are designed to look and function like natural teeth.
Dental bridges can address most of the problems created by missing teeth. Fixed dental bridges have multiple benefits:
Most people can get a bridge done by a regular dentist; however, there are also dentists, called prosthodontists, who specifically work with restoring missing teeth. The first step is to prepare the teeth, called abutment teeth, that will anchor the bridge. The preparation process involves removing a portion of the enamel on these teeth to make room for the crowns that will be added.
Next, impressions are made of the teeth. These impressions are then sent off to a lab to be used as a model for the bridge. The dentist will provide the patient with a temporary bridge to protect the exposed gum and teeth while the permanent bridge is being made.
Once the bridge is made, the dentist will replace the temporary bridge with the permanent bridge and make any necessary adjustments. The process of achieving a proper fit may take multiple visits. When a good fit is achieved, the dentist will then permanently cement the bridge into place.
Patients may experience mouth pain and sore or bleeding gums after getting a dental bridge. These symptoms usually resolve after a few days, but it may take a few weeks for the gums to completely heal. Most patients can return to work or school the day after the procedure.
Maintaining the health of the abutment teeth is critical to maintaining the integrity of the bridge. Following the advice of a dental professional and getting regular dental checkups can help to maintain the health of these teeth. Early treatment can prevent many oral health issues from getting worse, so it is important to promptly report any problems with the bridge or surrounding teeth to a dentist.
A missing tooth can have serious consequences on the appearance and health of a person's teeth. Replacing missing teeth with a fixed dental bridge can improve the look of the smile and avoid many oral health problems caused by missing teeth.
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