Dental bridges are an alternative to partial dentures.
A bridge can help you eat and speak better and improvehow your teeth look.
Bridges can be made of ceramic, resin, porcelain, or metals like cobalt and gold.
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When replacing front teeth, ceramic is a top choice.
It mimics the translucency of natural teeth and can be matched to your natural color.
This article will go over the different kinds of dental bridges.
Types of Dental Bridges
The artificial teeth used in dental bridges are calledpontics.
You’ll have a pontic for each missing tooth.
A pontic is made to be close in shape and size to the tooth that’s missing.
Dental Bridge vs.
Dental Implant
A dental bridge sits atop the gums and is anchored to a crown on its neighboring teeth.
An implant is mounted on a screw attached to the jaw bone.
Bridges are faster, easier to complete, less expensive, and often covered by insurance.
Pontics are anchored to a tooth next to the gap (abutment teeth) or to a dental implant.
If you have dental insurance, some or all of the cost of a dental bridge might be covered.
The cost of a dental bridge without insurance can range from $700 to several thousand dollars per tooth.
Should You Get a Dental Bridge?
Not everyone is a good candidate for a dental bridge.
The process of getting a dental bridge can take a long time.
Then, they’ll place a temporary bridge over those teeth to protect them until the bridge is placed.
During a later appointment, your dentist will:
Sometimes, the bridge is permanently cemented during this procedure.
The healing time for an implant-supported bridge varies.
Many dentists recommend waiting six months before mounting the new crown and bridge.
This allows the implant to integrate with thejawbonebefore supporting your new teeth.
That said, a dental bridge wont last forever.
The average dental bridge lasts between five and seven years.
With proper care, some bridges can last more than a decade.
Advances in dental bridge materials and methods are likely to make them even more durable in the future.
The best way to get the most out of your dental bridge is to take care of it.
Having good oral health is also important if you want your bridge to last as long as possible.
Your dentist or dental hygienist will show you how to properly floss and clean around your bridge.
It’s also important to see your dentist regularly fordental cleanings and exams.
Your dentist will give you specific instructions to follow during that time.
In the long term, certain foods can cause problems for dental bridges or abutment teeth.
If you want your bridge to last and avoid damaging it, you’ll have to avoid these foods.
Certain factors will determine who is a good candidate for a dental bridge.
Frequently Asked Questions
A cantilever bridge is one bang out of dental bridge.
It has an artificial tooth called a pontic that’s connected to one abutment tooth (metal connector).
Cantilever bridges are not common today.
A Maryland dental bridge (resin-bonded bridge) is often used if a person is missing front teeth.
This throw in of dental bridge uses porcelain fused with a metal framework that connects to existing teeth.
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