A bridge may be used to replace missing teeth, help maintain the shape of your face, and alleviate stress on your bite. Without a dental bridge or another type of tooth replacement, teeth will shift and the bone underneath the missing tooth gap will begin to deteriorate. Both consequences can affect how a patient speaks, eats, and how their face looks. Prevent these negative results with a dental bridge!
A bridge replaces missing teeth with artificial teeth, looks great, and literally bridges the gap where one or more teeth may have been. Your bridge can be made from gold, alloys, porcelain, or a combination of these materials, and is bonded onto surrounding teeth for support.
The success of any bridge depends on its foundation—the other teeth, gums, or bone to which it is attached. Therefore, it’s very important to keep your existing teeth, gums, and jaw healthy and strong.
Dental bridges can be placed on top of existing teeth as well as dental implants, or metal shafts that are inserted into the jawbone. The bridge’s prosthetic teeth that cover an implant or tooth are called abutments and are similar to dental crowns. However, a crown generally refers to a single prosthetic tooth cap instead of ones bonded with a set of replaceable teeth like bridges.
Traditional bridges refer to dental bridges in which abutment crowns are placed on top of existing teeth that have been milled down. Implant-supported bridges, on the other hand, are bridges supported by one or more implants. These can be useful if a patient is missing more than one tooth and doesn’t want to replace all missing teeth with implants.
Bridges can last from 5 to 15 years. On average they last about a decade or so given that the patient practices good oral hygiene.
Take care of dental bridges by brushing and flossing teeth around the bridge daily, having professional teeth cleanings twice a year (during which our dentist can examine your bridge and its abutment teeth), and maintaining other good habits that keep teeth healthy. These habits prevent plaque and bacteria buildup that cause decay in teeth. If teeth under your bridge begin to decay, your bridge may need to be adjusted.
Both dental bridges and implants have their pros and cons. For example, natural teeth that anchor abutment crowns may wear down or become damaged the longer the bridge is put in place. With dental implants, though, no surrounding teeth are harmed or at risk of damage.
That being said, implants are more expensive. While they remain sturdily in place without damaging your other teeth, they aren’t always covered by insurance. Bridges more often than not can are covered, making them more affordable for patients. If multiple teeth are missing, replacing each one with an implant can get costly. Cover the gaps with a traditional or implant-supported bridge and you’ll spend much less for high-quality replacement teeth!
Yes! As mentioned previously, much of the cost of dental bridges can be covered by insurance providers. Patients can often qualify for financing options as well.
Even so, bridges are worth the cost. They keep teeth from shifting around after a tooth has fallen out or has been extracted to maintain a patient’s facial structure. Dental bridges are affordable, natural-looking teeth replacements that can last for a decade or more!
Whatever type of bridge you choose, make sure it’s put in place by a skilled dentist with years of experience working with dental bridges like our dentist in Marietta, GA. Schedule a consultation with Dr. Patel today!
We accept nearly all insurances and are proud to offer our patients low-cost, high-quality dentistry. Patients are treated like family here by our dentist and the entire staff. If you have a question, we take the time to listen and respond to all concerns. Meet with Kenmar Dental today to learn more about dental bridges and how they can be an affordable option for replacing your teeth!
