Practitioners of general dentistry use dental bridges to fill in gaps where patients have missing teeth. The most common reasons for missing teeth include:
When patients have missing teeth, nearby teeth may shift into the gaps. Additionally, opposite teeth may move up or down towards the empty place. When teeth shift, patients may have bite problems, pain, and chewing difficulties.
The most common bridge is the traditional fixed bridge. Conventional bridges have two or more crowns and a filler tooth. The bridge is metal, ceramic, or porcelain fused to metal. Dentists use crowns to hold the bridge in place.
Traditional bridges and implant-supported bridges are similar. Instead of crowns, the patient receives implants to hold the bridge in place. Resin-bonded bridges use porcelain fused to ceramic or metal teeth with wings on each side bonded to the patient's existing teeth.
The last type of bridge is the cantilever bridge. In this type of bridge, the pontic only has one abutment tooth. Dentists may suggest cantilever bridges if a patient has teeth on only one side of a gap.
Different types of bridges may require different procedures. Most commonly, the dental provider reshapes the abutment teeth to prepare for the bridge. The general dentist may remove part of the dentin and enamel to create room for the crown. Next, the provider takes impressions of the teeth. Those impressions help build the bridge, crown, and false teeth. On the second visit, the patient receives the permanent bridge.
Dental bridges may improve a patient's ability to eat and speak. With missing teeth, patients cannot always eat hard foods. However, once individuals become accustomed to bridges, they can bite down on various foods.
Gaps in a person's teeth may lead to lower self-esteem. Bridges restore a patient's smile and may preserve the jawbone. When people have missing teeth, the lack of stimulation causes jawbone loss. Bone deterioration can alter the shape of a person's face. Patients do not have to remove the bridge to clean it. They can clean the bridge through regular brushing.
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General dentistry refers to primary dental practices. A patient may visit their general dentist for diagnostic or preventative treatment. If a person loses his or her teeth due to cavities, trauma, or gum disease, the dentist may suggest a dental bridge to fill the gap. The type of dental bridge depends on how many natural teeth the patient has around the space.
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