Who Needs Dental Bridges?

A missing tooth affects more than just your smile and confidence. Over time, the gaps in your teeth can result in complications such as teeth misalignment which interferes with speech and chewing ability. Luckily, you can avoid such problems by seeking tooth replacement treatments from a dentist near you. Dental bridges are one such solution that helps fill the gap left by a missing tooth to improve both your oral and overall health.

What Are Dental Bridges?

Just as the name implies, dental bridges ‘bridge’ the space in between natural teeth where a tooth or more are missing. Bridges consist of at least of two artificial teeth and a maximum of six. They rely on the teeth adjacent to the gap for support. These teeth are called abutments and are usually shaped to enable them support crowns on each end of the bridge. A series of artificial teeth are then connected to the crowns to form a continuous piece that stands in the gap where teeth are missing. Our dentist in Leesburg ensures that the artificial teeth are designed to closely resemble your natural teeth for a natural-looking and beautiful smile.

There are actually four types of dental bridges available. The tooth-supported bridges, also known as traditional bridges are the most popular and require that you have two healthy natural teeth on either sides of the gap. Then there is the cantilever dental bridge but this only requires one natural tooth next to the gap. The artificial tooth is held in place by a dental crown that is cemented to a single abutment tooth. The third type of bridges is Maryland bridges which very similar to the traditional bridge but instead of using dental crowns to support the artificial teeth, it uses a metal or porcelain framework. The frame is bonded on the back of each abutment teeth on each side of the gap.

The fourth type of bridge is the implant-supported bridge that uses dental implants instead of crowns or frameworks. It is considered the most solid system but the procedure is quite invasive and you may have to deal with a longer down-time period compared to the other three types of bridges.

Who is a Good Candidate for Dental Bridges?

At our dental clinic in Leesburg, we are committed to offering patients quality and lasting solutions. Before getting dental bridges, we will evaluate your current oral health status to determine if it is the right fix for you. This is because not everyone that suffers from tooth loss can benefit from bridges. Some of the things that Dr. Jane O. Stewart looks out for to evaluate your candidacy for dental bridges include;

• Number and Area of Missing Teeth

Bridges can be used to replace up to four teeth. This is however only possible if the teeth are consecutively missing. Non-consecutive gaps of gaps on opposite sides of the mouth cannot be fixed with a single bridge.

• Health of Your Gums and Teeth

When getting dental bridges near you, the dentist will first want to make sure that your teeth and gums are in optimal shape. Problems like gum disease and cavities can ultimately affect the success of your bridges if not taken care of. Your gums need to be healthy to ensure the bridges fit comfortably and your teeth need to be strong and healthy to offer adequate support to the replacement teeth.

• Jaw Bone Density

This is especially a key requirement for patients getting implant-supported bridges. You need to have enough bone mass and density so that your dentures are able to stay in place. Inadequate bone density can cause the implants to loosen overtime, affecting the stability of the dental bridges.

• General Health

The dentist will take your overall health history into account to determine if you can safely and successfully undergo the procedure.

• Commitment to Good Oral Hygiene

For dental bridges to be effective and last long, you need to maintain a high standard of oral hygiene. Dental bridges do not usually require any special maintenance. Instead, you need to care for them, as you would your natural teeth. Make sure to brush at least twice daily, floss, use a mouthwash and observe all you routine dental appointments. Also, in case of any problem with the bridges, visit an emergency dentist in Leesburg immediately.