Dental Bridges: Types, Process and Who Needs It

If you’re missing a tooth and want the fastest way to replace it, a dental bridge may be the answer you’ve been looking for. A dental bridge uses the tooth on each side of your missing tooth to connect a fake/false tooth to. The dental bridge is permanently bonded which means you will care for it just like your natural teeth. It is most often made of porcelain which means it will look like your natural teeth also. With CEREC crown technology, available at Living Well Dental Group, a dental bridge can be completed in one visit and often within a few hours.

What is a dental bridge?

A dental bridge fills the gap to replace a missing tooth. A dental bridge is permanently bonded to the natural teeth on each side of the missing tooth. The natural teeth, which the dental bridge is bonded to, are called the abutment teeth. The fake/false tooth is called a pontic. The dental bridge is custom made which means it will match the color, shape and size of your natural teeth, therefore, it will be undetectable to anyone else. A dental bridge can be used to replace front teeth and also used as a dental implant bridge.

What does a dental bridge look like?

A dental bridge will look like and function like your natural teeth. The dental bridge is custom made, therefore, it will be made to fit your specific needs. In most cases, it is not something that your friends or family will be able to notice that you have.

When is a dental bridge necessary?

A dental bridge is necessary when you have a missing tooth. If you do not replace your missing tooth, the surrounding teeth will begin to fall into the empty space. This may cause: pain while chewing, issues with self-confidence about the way your smile looks, bite problems and pain in surrounding teeth or jaw. Self-confidence may be more of an issue when dealing with missing front teeth, which is why a front dental bridge would be a great option for an instant improvement.

Types of dental bridges:

There are a lot of great options for dental bridges. This includes things such as a temporary dental bridge, a tooth-supported fixed bridge, and a resin-bonded bridge. Here are a few more types of dental bridges:

• Traditional Bridge: This type of dental bridge is the most common type of dental bridge. It uses the teeth on each side of the missing tooth to connect a fake/false tooth to. It is a great option as long as the natural teeth on each side of the missing tooth are in good shape. The natural teeth adjacent to the missing tooth are used to connect a fake/false tooth to, they need to be healthy enough to support the fake/false tooth.
• Cantilever Bridge: This type of dental bridge only attaches to a tooth on one side of the missing tooth. It is not widely used because it is not as strong as the Traditional Bridge. A cantilever dental bridge cannot be used to replace a tooth in the far back (molar tooth area) because those teeth use too much force for chewing.
• Maryland Bridge: This type of dental bridge is often used to replace front teeth. It is considered more conservative because the adjacent teeth to the missing tooth are not prepared for a crown, instead thin, metal attachments are placed on the back of the natural teeth which connect to a fake/false tooth in the center. This is permanently bonded in place.
• Implant-Supported Bridge: This type of dental bridge is similar to the Traditional Bridge except the bridge is connected to Implant teeth rather than natural teeth. Implants are a great way to replace missing teeth. An implant-supported bridge is considered the sturdiest type of bridge.

Process of getting a dental bridge:

At Living Well Dental Group, getting a dental bridge is a fast and simple process. We make our dental bridges out of porcelain, so they will look, feel and function like your natural teeth. This process can be completed in a few short hours, all while you enjoy our free Wi-Fi, Netflix, Pandora and any of our other comfort menu options.

1. The teeth are prepared for the bridge (this is often completed in less than 10 minutes per tooth).
2. A digital scan is taken of the teeth where the bridge will be placed.
3. The bridge is designed.
4. The bridge is milled out of a block of porcelain.
5. The bridge is bonded into place.
6. You get to leave with your brand new bridge and new confident SMILE the same day!!

Dental bridge before and after pictures

There are many types of dental bridges to replace a missing tooth. Each type of dental bridge has its own advantages. The best way to determine the type of dental bridge that would best suit your missing tooth is to schedule an appointment with your dentist.

Call Naperville’s Experienced Dental Bridge Experts Today

If you have a missing tooth, and would like to have it evaluated to see if a dental bridge may be the right answer for you, call today 630-505-1516. Our friendly team can answer all of your questions and help you to determine the best option to replace your missing tooth.