Dental Bridges
April 24th, 2012 by wordpress
Dental bridges are a convenient and affordable way to restore your smile when you are missing one or more adjacent teeth. If you practice good oral hygiene, and visit your dentist twice a year for checkups, a dental bridge can enhance your smile for 10 to 15 years to come.
Dental bridges are prosthetic teeth, anchored on either side of the gap in your smile either by your own natural teeth or by dental implants. Your dental bridge can be crafted from porcelain, metal alloys, gold or an amalgamation of the three.
Dental bridges can be fitted in as few as two visits. On your first visit, your anchor teeth will be prepped and recontoured so that crowns strong enough to support your new bridge can be fitted over them. If these teeth already have crowns, new crowns may need to be fitted. Your dentist or your dental assistant will make a mold of your mouth so that the dental laboratory creating the bridge will have a model to follow. A temporary bridge will be fitted to protect your exposed anchor teeth and gums while your permanent bridge is being prepared.
Your permanent dental bridge will be fitted on your second visit. It frequently takes a little adjustment in your dentist’s office before it fits just right. If your dentist has any doubts at all about the fit, he or she will cement it temporarily into place so that you can try it first. Once you and your dentist are happy with the look, feel and fit of your new dental bridge, your dentist will cement it permanently into place.
A dental bridge is more than just a cosmetic accessory. If you’re missing teeth, it also helps you speak more clearly and chew your food more efficiently. A dental bridge prevents your remaining natural teeth from becoming misaligned, thus maintain the structural integrity of your face. The best candidate for a dental bridge is someone who practices regular oral hygiene and whose teeth are basically in good shape even though he or she may be missing a few teeth.
