Dental Bridges Treatment: A Cost-Effective Solution to Your Missing Teeth

Dental bridge treatment is designed for fitting a prosthetic tooth to fill the gap created after a tooth has been lost or extracted from the jaw. A dental bridge is intended to replace only the crown – the visible portion of the tooth above the gum line. It allows you to restore a natural smile and speak and eat comfortably.

Some patients need a replacement for one tooth while others may need the replacement of several teeth. Modern dental bridges look very natural, and therefore, nobody tells the difference by looking at you. When they are cared for properly, they can last several years, sometimes up to 15 years.

When Does a Person Need Dental Bridge Treatment?

Dental bridge treatment is used to replace the tooth that is already missing or your dentist had to remove it due to decay, physical damage, or an abscess. The treatment is also done when a tooth is knocked out of the mouth during an accident. Sometimes, people have bridges to fill even the gaps where adult teeth never erupted.

If you are missing several teeth in a row, your dentist will design a bridge with multiple false teeth attached. In all cases, the bridge sits against your gums and is cemented or attached to the teeth on either side of the gap.

Am I the Right Candidate for Dental Bridge Treatment?

Years ago, dental bridges were the primary option to replace missing teeth. However, now, dental implants are getting more popular since they offer a solution that lasts even longer and provides more benefits. However, not everyone is the right candidate for dental implants. If you have a weak or eroded jaw bone structure, your dentist may recommend replacing your missing tooth with a dental bridge. Besides, patients who heal poorly due to diabetes or autoimmune disease will also benefit more from dental bridges than dental implants.

Is Dental Bridge Procedure Painful?

The process of having a dental bridge fitted is pretty simple and painless.

What Does the Procedure Involve?

For dental bridge treatment, you will need to visit your dentist at least twice. The first appointment will allow your dentist to perform the checkup, discuss the options, and prepare teeth on either side of the gap. If those teeth are to be crowned, your dentist will file away some of the enamel and reshape them to create space for the crown. The dentist will also take an impression of your teeth to send off to a lab.

Then, the lab will use that impression to create a custom bridge for your mouth. Once ready, your dentist receives them. In the meantime, your freshly prepared teeth will be covered with temporary crowns to prevent sensitivity and damage. You won’t feel pain during this because the dentist will administer a local anesthetic to numb the nerves in your teeth.

During the second appointment, your dentist will remove the temporary crowns if present and then cement your custom dental bridge in place. In some cases, your dentist may first use temporary cement to evaluate the fit and feel of the dental bridge in your mouth.

In the follow-up appointments, your dentist will talk to you about the fit, make changes if needed, and then permanently cement the bridge into place.

No serious dietary restrictions are there to worry about when you have a dental bridge. However, you should minimize your intake of overcrunchy and hard-to-chew food items as they can cause excess strain on the teeth supporting the bridge and that further leads to their shifting.