Hello, this is Dr. Virginia Ellis at Virginia H. Ellis, DDS Dental Corp. Today I am going to be talking about bridges. We've had people coming in asking us about bridges, and I am going to help you have a better understanding of them.
What is a dental bridge?
A dental bridge is a prosthesis. A prosthesis is something fake in your body, like a fake leg or a fake nose. A bridge is a prosthesis, and a denture is considered a prosthesis too. In a nutshell, if you have a missing tooth and the space needs to be filled, we address that by using a bridge. A bridge connects the gap between the two adjoining teeth by shaping the teeth for crowns. I'm going to show you, and then put on a bridge that looks like this. So that's a bridge.
What is the difference between a bridge and dentures?
When a bridge is placed in your mouth, it is cemented, fixed, and always on. You don't take it off. I have an example of a removable denture. This patient cracked a tooth and couldn't get an implant. She didn't want to do a bridge, so the next option was a removable partial denture. This is a very simplified example; you can have really complex ones that are much larger. She has crowns here, and we couldn't put modifications on her ceramic crowns. This is a simple example, and it kind of goes like this. It does have clear clasps, but that was the best solution for this case, and it works in her favor. It's easy to remove. That's removable; you can remove it on and off. Whereas a fixed, cemented, permanent bridge stays in the mouth and does not come out.
What are the pros and cons of dental bridges?
The pros are that you are replacing missing tooth spaces in your mouth, restoring the function of being able to chew and speak, and improving aesthetics, especially if it's in the front. The cons are that these are sometimes hard to clean. You have to be careful and mindful to brush underneath the gum line, floss underneath the gum line, and between your teeth. They're harder to clean than regular teeth. Also, here's the big one: a bridge, if it's fixed, can involve the actual teeth here. To attach this bridge and cement it, you have to shape the teeth, and once you shape the teeth and put these crowns, they are irreversible changes. That would be a downside to a fixed removable bridge. In the removable case, we did not have to adjust or make changes to the adjoining teeth; it just goes on and off. But you have this little area of attachment, with clasps, which covers more tooth space. So that is the difference between removable and fixed, the downsides and the upsides, the pros and cons.
What are the different types of dental bridges?
There are different types of dental bridges. I have this iPad here, and I'm hoping that you can see this. This is a traditional bridge. Here's where we adjust by removing that tooth structure, crowning the teeth, and replacing the missing tooth. That's a traditional bridge. Another one is an implant bridge. If you're missing a lot of tooth structure, you can put these bridges on top of implants. There's another one called a cantilever. Usually, this is when it involves a front tooth. You could use one tooth to anchor the missing tooth area. It's not for all cases, just certain types of situations. In a cantilever, you're attaching the adjacent tooth to the missing tooth structure, whereas in a traditional bridge, you're using two or more teeth to make up for the missing tooth space.
What are alternatives to dental bridges?
An implant is an option. If you don't want to sacrifice tooth structure, especially for teeth that aren't crowned, you can keep your teeth as they are and put in an implant. Wait a couple of months for it to integrate, and then put an implant crown to replace the tooth. This doesn't involve the adjacent teeth. Another option is removable dentures. The downside is that you always have to take them on and off, and they are sometimes visible. They sometimes require metal clasps that are visible in certain areas. In this case, we used clear clasps, which are still slightly visible, but that was the best solution given that an implant was not an option.
What is a removable dental bridge vs a fixed partial bridge?
A fixed bridge is cemented and cannot be removed. A removable bridge can be taken on and off.
What is a cantilever bridge?
A cantilever bridge involves only one tooth, unlike other bridges that involve two or more teeth. It is not suitable for all cases and requires a special situation.
What are the benefits of dental bridges?
They can be a natural-looking solution, as opposed to having empty space. They restore your appearance and function, allowing you to chew. Missing a molar or premolar can affect your ability to chew food and eat. They also restore the ability to speak, especially if the missing tooth is in the front of the mouth. That's an advantage of a dental bridge.
How can a dental bridge help those with gum disease?
If you have lost teeth due to gum disease, a dental bridge can help, provided the rest of your mouth is stable. If you don't have stable gums and bone sockets, you can't have a bridge. But if your teeth and gums are stable, it can replace missing tooth areas, restoring function, speech, and aesthetics.
Is dental bridge work painful?
Generally not, because we use anesthesia. You are expected to feel cold, touch, and pressure. You cannot be so numb that you won't feel anything. You'll feel when we administer anesthesia, but once you're numb, you're fine. We eliminate the pain when you're properly numbed.
What does the dental placement procedure involve?
This is a great question. When you're missing tooth structure, the process involves two visits. We shape the teeth, take a mold, put a temporary crown, and send the mold to the lab. You leave with a temporary bridge, return two weeks later, and we adjust and permanently cement your final bridge at the second appointment.
How long does a dental bridge last?
About 5 to 10 years on average. It depends on several factors: the quality of the work, the lab work, and how well you take care of your teeth. Even the best dental work won't last if you don't maintain it well. Regular checkups, good hygiene, and a healthy diet can extend the life of your bridge. Avoiding foods that can break your teeth, like ice or popcorn kernels, will help your bridge last longer.
How should I care for my dental bridge?
Brush your teeth and the bridge, floss daily, including in between and underneath. Regular checkups and cleanings, along with using fluoride, help reduce the incidence of cavities and the breakdown of the bridge.
When should I schedule an appointment for a dental bridge?
Come in for a consultation right away. If you have a tooth taken out, it generally takes about six weeks for the area to heal. Once healed, you can begin the procedure for your bridge. If you have medical complications, we need to ensure you are medically stable before proceeding.
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Hello, this is Dr. Virginia Ellis at Virginia H. Ellis, DDS Dental Corp. I'm going to describe three different types of bridges that people may be wondering about.
Traditional Bridge
A bridge is a traditional bridge used to replace an empty space in your mouth. The empty space is filled by attaching a crown to two adjoining teeth. The teeth are shaped, and then the bridge is permanently cemented to replace the empty space.
Implant Retained Bridge
The other type of bridge you can have is an implant-retained bridge. If you have multiple teeth missing, we put implants in and use these to replace the missing root surfaces at the bottom. This bridge is cemented or screwed into implants underneath your gum line.
Cantilever Bridge
The other type of bridge you can have is called a cantilever bridge. A cantilever bridge is used to replace a missing tooth structure involving only one tooth attached to the missing tooth space. The crown here is attached to only one tooth as opposed to two teeth. However, this situation is not suitable for all cases. It's case-by-case dependent, and sometimes you have to use two teeth.
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