Dental bridges are a form of false teeth that are designed to fill the spaces left by missing teeth. They can be invaluably beneficial both for health and cosmetic reasons.
The dentist will create a dental bridge of the correct dimensions. The false tooth of a dental bridge is called a pontic. In the majority of cases it is fitted into a specified gap by attaching to the neighbouring teeth on either side using crowns. The porcelain crowns act as anchors for the pontic, creating a fixed, immovable dental bridge between the abutment teeth on both sides. Pieces of these adjacent teeth are removed to accommodate the crowns.
Types of bridge
Traditional fixed bridges
The traditional fixed bridge is the widespread definition of a dental bridge, fitted using the mechanisms described above and forming an irremovable bridge. These can cover gaps left by one or more missing teeth where abutment teeth can anchor the pontic at either end.
Resin bonded bridges
Resin bonded bridges are less expensive and usually recommended for the front teeth. The pontic is bonded to metal bands and these bands are linked to the abutment teeth using a hidden resin. The abutment teeth should be healthy for the resin bridge to be fully effective, but this type of bridge requires less preparation of the teeth.
Cantilever bridges
Cantilever bridges are available for parts of the mouth that are not under much strain, particularly the area where the front teeth grow. These bridges are used in cases where an abutment tooth is only present on one side of the space.
Why would I need a bridge?
Missing teeth can be unsightly and often lower the confidence of sufferers. But there are reasons unrelated to aesthetics that missing teeth need to be replaced. The remaining teeth can begin to place inordinate pressure on the teeth directly adjacent to the gap. These teeth are regularly forced to lean unnaturally into the space, which can change the person’s bite. There is also a higher risk of tooth decay and gum disease for people with gaps because specks of food build up in the space and are more difficult to remove or clean away. Some people with gaps suffer from speech impediments.
The benefits
The bridges provide a naturalistic, pleasing and discreet appearance. The fitting process is usually quick and easy for the patient. With appropriate oral hygiene, a dental bridge can last successfully for approximately ten years. The upshot of this is that falling into slack oral hygiene routines can harm the bridges and also provoke tooth or gum infection, though this is also a risk for people without bridges. The treated teeth are often sensitive to fluctuating temperature for a number of weeks after the fitting, but this should soon diminish.
If you lose a tooth due to an injury, or you are advised to have a tooth extracted as a result of decay or infection, we have a range of options to restore your smile, including dental bridges.
About dental bridges
Dental bridges are a very popular tooth replacement treatment, and are most commonly used to replace a single tooth. Bridges are usually made from a false tooth, which is fused to two crowns, one on each side. However, it is also possible to get bridges that are supported on one side of the gap only. These bridges are known as traditional fixed bridges and cantilever bridges respectively.
There are various materials that can be used to make a dental bridge, including precious and non-precious metals and ceramics. We often find that porcelain is a very popular choice because it produces the most attractive aesthetics and enables us to replace the tooth without detracting from the natural beauty of the smile.
Bridges are custom-made for the individual patient and they are fitted during a simple and painless procedure. Once the bridge has been fitted, your dentist will check it every time you have a check-up. Provided that you look after the bridge, it should last for around 10-15 years.
Advantages of dental bridges
Dental bridges are a more affordable option than dental implants and the treatment process is simple, painless and relatively quick. Usually treatment is complete within 2-3 weeks and then you can enjoy the benefits of your new tooth. Bridges are durable and they can provide extremely natural aesthetics.
With a dental bridge, you can enjoy better oral function and a reduced risk of oral disease, as well as feeling more confident when you smile.
In today’s world of dentistry, there are some extraordinary techniques and procedures to get you through difficult times, times such as tooth loss. This is a particularly uncomfortable period because aside from the shock, and the deflation of your ego, it also puts the future of your oral health at risk. It is best you do something about it in order to overcome these problems to get you up and smiling again, and a seasoned way to do this is to get a dental bridge put in. Once the damaged area has been assessed and measured up by your dentist, then the best choice of bridge for you can be made, and mouldings taken from this area can then be sent off for the bridge to be made. Depending on where the bridge needs to go will determine how it is set into place; the most common method is to cement the bridge in between two other teeth, though it can be set with wires and resins. However, many dentists prefer to double-up the bridge with a mini-dental implant as this offers tremendous strength and rigidity to the fitting. If you live in Bath and like the idea of the dental bridge and want to know more, then get in touch with Clifton Dental in Bristol for they serve the town and are experts in all aspects of bridges and tooth-loss
Overcoming the aftermath of tooth-loss can be quite a traumatic time in your life, but if you want to keep smiling with style and ensure the health of your mouth is safe in the future, overcome it you must. One of the more established ways of getting through this choppy period is to have a dental bridge put in to fill up the hole. These have been around for years, but since technology got to grips with dental implants, a combination of the two has made for an extremely strong fitting indeed that will last you for a long time. Every incident and the position of loss will require a bespoke bridge to deal with your particular problem, but they are very adaptable and your dentist will decide what is right for you. Cleaning them at first will be a hassle as you will need to get under and around them with special techniques and tools, however crack this and you really will be smiling. Have a chat and get more advice from the professionals Clifton Dental of Bristol; they will put your mind at rest by answering all of your questions, so tap them up, as they serve the bath area.
Tooth loss used to be considered a serious problem in years gone by and most of it was mental: of course when your teeth start to fall out, it is a problem, but in your mind, it can become bigger than it actually is. But it will get bigger though, if you just sit back and do nothing about it, for the rest of your teeth can move around the hole, the hole itself will become a haven for bacteria and soon, you’ll be losing more teeth as well. The best way to prevent further complications is to plug up the hole and one of the best ways to do this is to have a bridge fitted. The place that your tooth has been lost will govern the type of bridge that you have fitted. For example, if the new fitting has only a single tooth to attach it to, then a series of wires will be attached to the adjacent tooth and bonded with resin. The other type of bridge is a replacement tooth set between two crowns and then cemented onto the two teeth that sit either side of the gap- this can also be used to stretch over a gap of up to three teeth as well. But bridgework has altered a lot in recent years because of the coming of the mini-implant and so the design of bridges has changed considerably so that they can accommodate the anchorage that a implant can give. If you are considering going down this route, you can get more information from Clifton Dental in Bristol, which serves the Bath area.
Cosmetic dentistry has pretty much covered all bases when it comes to picking you up by the scruff of the neck and getting you back smiling again, and this also goes for tooth loss. You no longer have to suffer unsightly gaps any more, which can also lead to more problems later on as the other teeth start to shift towards the hole. So if you want to avoid these complications, you should contact Clifton Dental of Bristol, who cover the Bath area, and discuss about the option of having a dental bridge fitted. Bridges have been around for decades now, so they have a proven track record with tooth loss, however, they would normally last around 15 years that was until they started to be used along with mini-implants. Sometimes the bridge can take the shape of a single crown that is bonded to the adjacent tooth/teeth by wires and then coated with a resin, but the most popular bridge is one that spans a gap of one or more teeth, more commonly known as the Maryland Bridge. The new tooth/teeth will be bonded between two crowns and then cemented onto the remaining teeth that sit either side of the gap. Over a span of two lost teeth though, the bridge can become weak in the middle, but by using an implant, the bridge anchors in the centre against the gums and becomes more rigid and stronger. An implant can also anchor this type of bridge at the end of a line where there are no teeth. The only problem that comes with having a bridge fitted is cleaning them, so for the first few weeks, you needs to practise this until you get it right.
Dental bridges have always been popular with the people, but as time has evolved and new techniques and materials have found their way into dental surgeries in Bath, the bridge has become more and more reliable with age and they have always been a great way to replace lost teeth. When you decide to opt for a bridge, your dentist will first take a mould and then consult with you about your best options before the fitting is made. If the new tooth has only another healthy single tooth to bond to, you will need a cantilever bridge which is bonded with wires and resins; as is the Maryland bridge which is bonded in the same way to two adjacent teeth. The other option is a fixed bridge; a tooth that is moulded between two crowns and cemented onto adjacent teeth and nowadays, made from a zirconium and ceramic mix for unbeatable strength. This can also be used where a few teeth have gone missing although to retain the strength over a longer distance, they should be used with a mini-implant for more rigidity. The only downside to a bridge is they can be very hard to clean at first so your dentist should show you how and supply you with special brushes. For further details on the dental bridge, get in contact with Clifton dental.
Dental bridges are false teeth which are attached onto neighbouring teeth in order to replace one or more missing teeth. Patients from Bath frequently have this procedure done to improve their smile and appearance, the shape of your face and your speech. Even the rate of gum disease and tooth decay can be improved as it reduces the volume of food which accumulates in the gap.
A dental bridge essentially consists of a false tooth made from gold, alloys, porcelain or a combination of these materials. There are three main types of bridge available. A traditional fixed bridge is fused between two porcelain crowns which are anchored onto neighbouring teeth or implants. This is usually made from ceramics or porcelain fused to metal. These are fixed and cannot be removed.
The second type is a resin-bonded bridge which is used when the gap to be filled is in between the front teeth, or when the teeth on either side of the missing tooth are strong and healthy without large fillings. The false tooth is made of plastic and is fused to metal bands that are bonded to the adjacent teeth using resin.
Thirdly, you can get cantilever bridges which are used when there are teeth present on only one side of the space. In this case the false tooth is anchored to one or more adjacent teeth on one side.
The procedure is usually done in two appointments. At the first visit an impression is made and a temporary bridge is fitted. At the second visit, the custom-made bridge is placed, adjusted and then cemented into position.
One of the good things about dental bridges is that they are quite durable, lasting between 10 and 15 years on average, provided that you maintain good dental habits, of course!
Replacing a lost tooth or teeth is vital to secure the long term health of your mouth. Having a gap in your smile can lead to a loss of confidence if you find that you are embarrassed about smiling in social situations. Eating and drinking can become painful and the teeth surrounding the gap might begin to shift. If you have lost a number of teeth your cheeks might sag, making you look older than you are.
Whether you have lost a tooth through an accident, dental decay or gum disease, dental bridges provide the answer. There are three types of dental bridge, the most common being the traditional or fixed variety. Here a false tooth, known as a pontic, is affixed between two crowns which themselves are anchored to neighbouring teeth. This is avery stable method an ideal if you have lost one tooth. In cases where one of your front teeth has been lost a plastic pontic will be used in a process called resin-bonded or Maryland-bonded bridges. This method ensures that your smile looks as natural as possible by concealing the resin. You might need a cantilever bridge if it is decided that the pontic can only be fused to a tooth on one side because your front teeth are liable to experience stress.
To make sure that the bridge and pontic will have enough room your dentist might shave off a little of an existing tooth. Using a mould that has been taken of your mouth, technicians in a specialist lab will fabricate a replacement which will be attached with dental cement. While you wait for this, to keep the area protected, you will wear a temporary bridge.
Contact your Bristol dentist if you have lost a tooth and want to find out more about the dental bridge work which can provide you with a lasting solution.
Weston-super-Mare dentists are now offering the most effective, sturdy and realistic way of replacing missing teeth. Dental implants are rapidly becoming the most popular way of filling that unsightly hole in your dental arc caused by a missing tooth. But just what is about dental implants that makes them so special?
Unlike other dental restorations such as dental bridges and partial dentures, the dental implant replaces the whole of the tooth from root to crown. This means that it provides a solid and lifelike substitute for a real tooth and is also very strong. This is very good news for patients who have previously experienced the fragility of other restorations. This can include broken dental bridges because food of a certain consistency has proven too tough or hard for the repair. The other major advantage of dental implants is that they are permanent and will not need replacing after about ten years, so once it has been fitted it will last a lifetime.
Dental implants come in the form of small metal screws, usually titanium, that are fitted directly into the jaw. They are then given a certain amount of time to settle in and become solid with the other tissue. Once this has happened they cam then be used as a base for the remainder of the treatment that involves a post and then artificial tooth, carefully chosen to match the colour, shape and size of the other teeth.
It is also possible for patients who wear dentures to have a series of small implants fitted to act as a secure base. This eliminates the worry of loose dentures and also means patients can eat what they want when they want.
Dr Gerrard is a Bristol based Cosmetic dentist with many years of experience and is one of only a small number of dentists accredited by The British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry
In today’s world of dentistry, there are some extraordinary techniques and procedures to get you through difficult times, times such as tooth loss. This is a particularly uncomfortable period because aside from the shock, and the deflation of your ego, it also puts the future of your oral health at risk. It is best you do something about it in order to overcome these problems to get you up and smiling again, and a seasoned way to do this is to get a dental bridge put in. Once the damaged area has been assessed and measured up by your dentist, then the best choice of bridge for you can be made, and mouldings taken from this area can then be sent off for the bridge to be made. Depending on where the bridge needs to go will determine how it is set into place; the most common method is to cement the bridge in between two other teeth, though it can be set with wires and resins. However, many dentists prefer to double-up the bridge with a mini-dental implant as this offers tremendous strength and rigidity to the fitting. If you live in Bath and like the idea of the dental bridge and want to know more, then get in touch with Clifton Dental in Bristol for they serve the town and are experts in all aspects of bridges and tooth-loss
Overcoming the aftermath of tooth-loss can be quite a traumatic time in your life, but if you want to keep smiling with style and ensure the health of your mouth is safe in the future, overcome it you must. One of the more established ways of getting through this choppy period is to have a dental bridge put in to fill up the hole. These have been around for years, but since technology got to grips with dental implants, a combination of the two has made for an extremely strong fitting indeed that will last you for a long time. Every incident and the position of loss will require a bespoke bridge to deal with your particular problem, but they are very adaptable and your dentist will decide what is right for you. Cleaning them at first will be a hassle as you will need to get under and around them with special techniques and tools, however crack this and you really will be smiling. Have a chat and get more advice from the professionals Clifton Dental of Bristol; they will put your mind at rest by answering all of your questions, so tap them up, as they serve the bath area.
