Role of Dental Bridges -A Short Guide

If you have a gap between Adjacent teeth or multiple gaps between your teeth, you can opt for dental bridges to restore the function and structure of your teeth. Dental bridges are artificial or fake teeth that restore the function of lost or missing teeth. They also help improve the appearance of a patient. 

Dental bridges in Columbia, SC, are used to treat patients having missing teeth, gum diseases, tooth decay and more. To opt for a dental bridge, one must have healthy teeth on either side of the missing tooth. 

Who needs a dental bridge? 

A person who has the following issues can opt for a dental bridge:

• Problems with biting food. 
• Problems with chewing food. 
• Pain that arises due to excessive stress and pressure. 
• Cosmetic purposes. Some patients may feel underconfident with a missing tooth. 

What does a dental bridge include? 

A basic dental bridge includes pontics and abutment teeth. 

• Abutment teeth: Two dental crowns are placed on either side of the missing tooth. These supporting or anchoring teeth act like your natural teeth or dental implants. 
• Pontics: A fake tooth attaches the two crowns placed on either side of the gap. 

Uses of dental bridges. 

All the issues related to a missing tooth can be addressed using dental bridges. The following are the indications for a dental bridge. 

1. Helps restore your smile. 
2. It helps in chewing the food entirely. 
3. Restores your speech. 
4. Maintain the shape and appearance of your teeth. 
5. Prevents movement of the remaining teeth adjacent to the gap. 

Types of dental bridges. 

Most frequently used dental implants include:

• Implant-supported dental bridge. 

This is the strongest and the most stable dental bridge. It requires two surgeries to complete the bridge placement. The first surgery involves placing the implant onto the jaw bone, while the second involves placing the dental bridge over the dental implant. Several months are required to get complete results. 

• Traditional dental implants. 

This is the most frequently used dental bridge, it requires placing abutment teeth on either side of the gap, and dental crowns are used to attach the two abutment teeth. However, this procedure can also be used with natural healthy teeth that are present on either side of the gap. 

• Maryland dental bridge. 

Just like traditional dental bridges, this procedure also involves placing two abutment teeth on either side of the gap and placing a metal or porcelain framework in between them in place of the dental implant.