Missing a tooth? Your smile is often the first thing people see. So it’s only natural that you’re feeling a little self-conscious. If you’re missing a tooth, you have a few different options available. However, if you’re looking for a solution that is both inexpensive and effective, a high-quality dental bridge might be the right choice for you.
When dental patients in the Orange County area need to replace a tooth, more often than not they choose Cypress DDS for dental bridges. A dental bridge uses two healthy teeth, protected and strengthened by dental crowns,as supports for a prosthetic. While it’s possible for a bridge to add strength to the supporting teeth by using a crowns, the placement of a modern crown helps minimize long-term damage while successfully plugging the gap caused by a missing tooth or a tooth that’s become too damaged to keep. Most of all, a dental bridge can quickly, inexpensively, and successfully complete your smile by “bridging” the gap a missing tooth creates.
One of the most important aspects of choosing a dental bridge is ensuring that the supporting teeth can handle the pressure and weight of the bridge. With this in mind, dental bridges are to be avoided if surrounding teeth are already filled or otherwise undermined by a history of infection or decay. When this occurs, your dentist will generally suggest a dental implant instead, which replaces the entire structure of your tooth using a prosthetic that is attached to a titanium post.
Typically, there are three different varieties of dental bridges: traditional bridges, cantilever bridges, and a ‘Maryland bridges’.
In Cypress, CA a traditional dental bridge is something we provide frequently. A traditional bridge is constructed of two crowns and a false tooth placed between. The crowns, (which are occasionally called caps) are added to your natural teeth to provide additional support and protection. By using crowned teeth as supports for your dental bridge, your newly reinforced teeth help take the pressure off your new dental prosthetic.
Cantilever bridges are a little different. A cantilever bridge, is also held in your mouth using crowns. However, a cantilever bridge only uses natural teeth on one side of your mouth, and only on the side where the particular tooth is missing. Cantilever bridges are most frequently used either when there is only one tooth adjacent to the gap, or when the tooth being replaced is in a part of your mouth that isn’t prone to quite as much stress.
Finally, we have the Maryland bonded bridge – otherwise known as the resin-bonded bridge. A Maryland bonded bridge uses a metal framework comprised of wings on either border of the implant to fix the appliance to your natural teeth.Due to the fact that the Maryland bonded bridge uses metal that is bonded to your teeth, it’s common for dentists to only use this as a last-resort. This is because the metal wings can often contribute to discoloration of the teeth, making it harder to achieve a natural appearance.
Looking for suggestions? When it comes to your teeth, you have more than a few options. No matter what your situation is, starting the conversation about missing teeth with your dentist is the best way to find the best possible solution for your mouth and your budget. No two smiles are the same, while some patients are perfectly fine with a traditional bridge, others might be more suited for a cantilever bridge or even a dental implant. For that reason, it’s always important to do your research and follow it up with a good honest chat with your dentist.