January 26th, 2012
Replacing Missing Teeth With a Dental Bridge
If you have had a tooth pulled, with the exception of wisdom teeth, you need to do something to replace that tooth in order to keep from having gum problems where the tooth was due to food accumulating in the gap and to keep your other teeth from shifting and causing problems with your bite. Of course replacing the tooth also has cosmetic benefits since it will improve your smile and make you less self-conscious. One of the common ways people deal with missing teeth is by getting dental bridges.
The traditional type of dental bridge includes having a false tooth, called a pontic, connected to two crowns which are applied to the teeth on either side of the missing tooth. These are permanent teeth bridges. Other types of bridges involve attaching the pontic to teeth only on one side of the missing tooth or attaching the pontic using metal bands cemented to the back of the teeth on either side of the missing tooth instead of using crowns.
Teeth bridges can be made out of a few different materials. Sometimes they are made out of metal, but more often they are made of porcelain or metal coated with porcelain. The latter two options give your bridge a more natural-looking appearance so most people will not even realize that you have a bridge.
Getting a dental bridge usually requires at least three visits. During the first visit the teeth on either side of the gap are trimmed to make room for the caps after the area is made numb and impressions are taken. You leave the dentist wearing a temporary bridge. Once your bridge arrives at the dentist, it will be fitted and temporarily attached so you can test the fit out before it is permanently attached. On the third visit the dental bridge will be attached with a permanent adhesive.
Once dental bridges are in place, they can last as long as 15 years if you take care of them properly, brushing and flossing and cleaning under the pontic each day. Take special care with the teeth around the pontic, as decay in these teeth could cause problems with your bridge.