If you have a missing tooth, a dental bridge is a great way to restore the appearance of your smile and make everyday activities, such as eating and talking, much easier and more comfortable. Read below to learn more or schedule a visit with us to find out if a dental bridge is the best solution for your smile.
What is a Dental bridge?
A dental bridge is a restoration that literally “bridges” the gap created when a patient loses one or more teeth. Bridges are sometimes called “fixed bridges” because they are permanent and often last a lifetime without having to be replaced.
When Does a Patient Need a Fixed Bridge?
Our team offers high quality, natural-looking dental bridges in Greenville, SC. We can install a bridge to solve a variety of dental issues, including:
Missing teeth. The most common reason for a fixed bridge is to fill the gap left by teeth which have been knocked out or removed.
Maintaining proper facial shape. If tooth loss or damage has been done to a patient’s jaw, then a fixed bridge can help preserve the shape of your jaw.
Keeping remaining teeth in place. Fixed bridges can contribute to preventing any remaining teeth from drifting out of their original position.
Restoring proper speaking and chewing. Tooth loss can impact a patient’s ability to speak and chew food properly.
Restore a natural-looking smile. Patients who feel anxious about their smile due to missing teeth may benefit from a fixed bridge.
Upgrading dental appliances. Some patients who currently use removable partial dentures can have a convenient, permanent fixed bridge installed as an upgrade.
Here at Carolina Oaks Dental Care, we know how important it is to your overall oral health that you get the dental care you need in time, before other problems arise. If you are suffering from a missing tooth or teeth, please do not hesitate to get the issue resolved by your trusted dentist in Greenville, SC before you have more or worse problems.
What Do Fixed Bridges Consist Of?
A fixed bridge consists of two or more crowns, which are created to fit the teeth surrounding either side of the gap caused by missing teeth. These anchoring teeth, called “abutment teeth”, serve as the foundation for the false tooth, or teeth, which will be installed in-between the crowns.
The false teeth which are installed in the middle of the fixed bridge are called “pontics”, and can either be made from porcelain, alloys, gold, or any combination of the three.
What Kinds of Dental Bridges are There?
Your trusted dentist in Greenville, SC will likely offer any, if not all, of these options when you visit for a fixed bridge consultation:
Traditional bridges.
This style involves creating a crown for the surrounding abutment teeth in order to keep the false pontic tooth in place. These are the most common types of fixed bridges and are usually made of porcelain.
Maryland bonded bridges.
These bridges, also called resin-bonded bridges, are most often made of porcelain fused to metal, or plastic gums and teeth surrounded by a metal framework to keep it in place.