DENTAL BRIDGE
The name ‘dental bridge’ was applied to this dental device because it literally bridges the gap which exists when a tooth is missing. The bridge itself is comprised of two or more anchoring teeth, situated on either side of the gap. These are known as abutment teeth.
In between the two abutment teeth, a false tooth would be installed where the gap exists. This would be the total solution for a missing tooth. The false tooth also has a special name (a pontic), and it can be made of porcelain, alloy, gold, or any combination of these materials.
Dental bridges are always supported by natural teeth which remain in the patient’s mouth.
Dental bridges can supply a number of benefits to the patient who has them installed.
This is because there won’t be a gap there to make the skin sink inward.
With a missing tooth fully replaced, the bite force in your mouth can once again be evenly distributed across all teeth. This means you won’t have an abnormal bite that causes excessive wear on one or more teeth.
There’s also one more important benefit of a bridge – it prevents the other teeth in your mouth from shifting out of position, toward the gap in your mouth. This can cause all your teeth to lean toward the gap, because support is missing for keeping them straight and in place.
Cantilever bridges are generally used when there is only one side of a gap that has supporting teeth that can be used.
Resin-bonded bridges are sometimes referred to as Maryland bonded bridges, and these can be made in one of several different ways.
During a patient’s initial visit to
Dr. Maitri Patel‘s Ocoee, FL dental clinic, the abutment teeth will be prepared for eventual usage in supporting the bridge. The teeth in your mouth will need to be contoured.
On your next visit to Dr. Patel, the temporary bridge will be removed, and the finished bridge from the lab will be installed. At this time, any adjustments which are necessary can be performed so the bridge fits comfortably and naturally in the mouth.
To be sure that the bite and the metal framework are exactly right, it may be necessary to make several trips to the Ocoee, FL dental clinic. If the bridge is intended to be a permanent one, it will be cemented in place by Dr. Patel.
After a couple of weeks, it will be checked again to make sure it is still fitting properly, and at that time a more permanent cementing will be done.
Don’t hesitate to
contact us at Dr. Maitri Patel’s Ocoee, FL dental clinic. We can help you determine whether a dental bridge is the right choice for restoring your smile after tooth loss.
