Dental Bridges are used to replace a missing tooth, and thus, fill the void left by that tooth. There are two other procedures that are used to fill the void left by a missing tooth. These procedures are known as dental implants and partial dentures. There are essentially three types of dental bridges – the traditional bridge, the cantilever bridge, and the resin-bound bridge. The traditional bridge is more commonly used to replace a missing tooth.
The procedure begins with a thorough examination of the teeth and gums to determine if the patient is a good candidate for this procedure. This evaluation is followed by the preparation of the teeth that will support the bridge. These teeth are called pillar teeth. If the abutment teeth are decayed or broken, then they must be rebuilt so that they can be used as load-bearing teeth. The dimensions of the abutment teeth are reduced by removing some of their enamel so that they can hold the material to be used to restore the size and shape of the original teeth in proper alignment.
The dentist takes an imprint of the patient’s prepared teeth to create a pattern, which is then used for making the bridge, the false tooth, and the crowns. In the meantime, a temporary bridge is mounted to protect exposed teeth and gums. Once the real or permanent bridge is ready, a dentist removes the temporary bridge and mounts or cements the permanent bridge in place. The false tooth is fixed to the crown that covers the abutment teeth. The crown can be made from gold, porcelain and/or alloys.
Bridges can be performed for various reasons. A missing tooth will not only change a person’s look and the beauty of their smile, but can also affect the way he or she chews. It can cause shifting of adjacent teeth and TMJ disorders as well. The gap left by a missing tooth can also trap food debris, and thus increase the risk of periodontal disease and tooth decay. For all these reasons, it is important to fill the void or replace the missing tooth as soon as possible. Contact Robert S. Ogden DDS PA for more information.