Do you have gaps in your smile because of missing teeth? You have a situation on your hands that must be dealt with quickly. If you visit the Pearland dentist for advice on how you can close the gap, the dental professional will advise a dental bridge as a solution to bridge the gap between your teeth.
Dental bridges are fixed permanent restorations to replace one or more missing teeth. Bridges can mimic the appearance, functionality, and shape of your natural tooth and are custom designed for you. If you have severe tooth loss, you may need multiple dental bridges.
Dental bridges are generally made from porcelain and attached to a metal structure for support. All-ceramic dental bridges are also available in a combination of porcelain and other materials having a similar appearance.
Before the placement of a dental bridge in Pearland, your dentist removes some tooth structure from the abutment teeth, which are the teeth supporting the dental bridge on either side. The tooth structure removal for dental bridges is the same for either the front or back teeth.
Why Are Dental Bridges Recommended?
The dentist in Pearland, TX, recommends dental bridges if you already have crowns on the abutment teeth. A bridge is also recommended if you cannot get implants for any reason. Dental bridges are similar to dental implants, and you may need one after tooth loss or extraction because of severe tooth decay, periodontal disease, aging, medicines, and injuries or trauma.
There are four varieties of dental bridges available: traditional, cantilever, Maryland, and implant-supported bridges. Which option you choose depends on your preference and your willingness to undergo the procedure for having the restoration in your mouth.
You can consider traditional bridges, which are the most popular and have a fake tooth attached to dental crowns holding it in place from both sides of the gap created by the missing tooth.
Cantilever bridges are also similar, but you only need one natural tooth next to the missing tooth and is usually an option if you have front teeth missing.
If you are willing to undergo an intensive procedure, you can have implant-supported bridges, which are the most robust and ideal if you have at least three missing teeth in a row.
The Dental Bridge Procedure
You require two appointments with the dentist in Pearland for dental bridge placement. During your first appointment, your teeth are shaped and filed to prepare them for the dental crown. All enamel and any additional tooth structure from the teeth are removed to create adequate space for the other tooth. After shaping your teeth, impressions are taken and sent to the dental laboratory to custom design your bridge. The dentist provides you a temporary bridge over the shaped teeth and the gap.
You return to the dentist for dental bridge placement when the permanent restoration is ready. At this time, your dentist removes the temporary bridge and cleans your teeth. Local anesthesia is administered before removing the temporary bridge if you are experiencing any sensitivity. X-rays of your tooth are taken to ensure the bridge fits appropriately. Finally, the bridge and teeth are bonded together using special dental cement.
Caring for the Gap You Just Closed in Your Mouth with Bridges
The Pearland dentist provides after-care tips to care for your oral hygiene and the dental bridge. If you have a permanent bridge placed, you must care for your teeth appropriately because the fake tooth sits on your gums and is challenging to clean. Not cleaning your teeth appropriately, as suggested by the dentist, will result in plaque and tartar buildup. Gum disease after having dental bridges will send you rushing to the emergency dentist in Pearland, TX, for treatment that you wouldn’t want.
Besides brushing twice a day, using interdental flossers for cleaning beneath the dental bridges, you must also rinse your mouth with mouthwash to reduce inflammation and prevent cavities under the bridge.
Having dental bridges helps close the gap in your smile, but you wouldn’t be helping yourself if you didn’t care for them appropriately. It is incredibly essential for you to follow the instructions of your dentist for the maintenance of your dental bridge. You must also visit the dentist for examinations and cleanings every six months to ensure you haven’t developed any problems in your mouth that will create more gaps in your smile.
Schedule a consultation with our expert dentist at Afroz Burges, DDS, PA which helps people from the nearby communities like Green Valley Estates, Almeda, Westenfeld, Fort Bend Houston, Cloverland, Central Southwest, Winchester, and Pearland, TX
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