Bridge the gap between your teeth and achieve the beautiful smile you deserve with dental bridges at Fennell, Yoxthimer, & Associates. Dental bridges are a common solution for replacing missing teeth and can help fill in gaps and restore not just the appearance of the teeth but their function as well. On top of that, they can keep the adjacent teeth in the proper position, guaranteeing you have a perfect smile.
What are Dental Bridges?
Dental bridges replace missing teeth and can restore the appearance of your teeth, improve your oral health, and even make it easier to chew. The bridge consists of two different parts: the dental crowns and the artificial tooth or teeth. The crown fits over your natural teeth on either side of the gap, and the artificial teeth sit in the gap to restore your smile.
There are four different types of dental bridges:
Traditional Dental Bridges
As you might suspect, traditional bridges are the most common type of dental bridge and consist of crowns placed on the teeth on either side of the gap and artificial teeth in between the neighboring teeth to fill in the space.
Cantilever Dental Bridge
The cantilever bridge is similar to the traditional bridge, but instead of two crowns, there is only one placed on the abutment tooth, and the artificial teeth or tooth extends across the gap.
Maryland Dental Bridge
Often called resin-bonded bridges, Maryland bridges use metal wings instead of crowns to secure the bridge to the surrounding teeth. The wings will be bonded to the supporting teeth. This method is often used to replace front teeth.
Implant-supported Bridges
An implant-supported bridge rests on top of a dental implant instead of your natural teeth. The dental implants are small posts that replace the roots of the missing tooth’ Because the implant must fuse with the jawbone, the process can take 3-6 months to complete.
Who is a Good Candidate for Dental Bridges?
Ideal candidates for a dental bridge typically are anyone missing one or more teeth and wanting to fill the gap to maintain the ability to chew, improve their dental health, or simply improve the appearance of their teeth. Dental bridges can also be placed for those looking to maintain the shape of their face.
We also recommend you be in good overall health, have healthy teeth and bones to support the bridge, and can maintain good oral health after the procedure.
Which dental bridge is right for you will depend on your overall dental health, how many teeth are missing, if there are natural teeth on each side of the gap, as well as several other factors. During your consultation, your dentist will recommend the best bridge for your needs.
Dental Bridges Procedure
What occurs during your dental bridge procedure will depend on the type of bridge being used.
No matter what bridge you choose, the procedure will start with the administration of local anesthesia to ensure you’re completely comfortable. From there, we’ll reshape the abutment teeth to fit the crown. We’ll then take impressions of your teeth to help us create the final bridge.
A temporary bridge will be put in place. It typically takes 2-4 weeks to make the final dental bridge.
For your second office visit, we’ll remove the temporary bridge and have you try on the new bridge to ensure it fits properly. We’ll then bond it in place.
The only type of dental bridge that will take longer than a few weeks is the implant-supported bridge. Because the implants need time to fuse with the jawbone, it can take several months before you receive the final bridge.
Aftercare
How long you need to recover depends on the type of implant being done and how fast you heal. Generally, it takes about 1-2 weeks for the teeth and gums to fully heal, but it can take a little longer for your dental bridge to feel comfortable.
To ensure your new dental bridge is taken proper care of and lasts, make sure to see your dentist for regular checkups and cleanings, brush and floss your remaining teeth daily to prevent tooth decay, clean around the bridge, stay away from hard or chewy foods, and avoid chewing on anything that might damage your teeth like ice or pens.
Schedule A Consultation
Restore your smile and improve the health of your teeth with a dental bridge at Fennell, Yoxthimer, & Associates. To learn more or to schedule a consultation, don’t hesitate to call our Cincinnati, OH office at 513-631-6600 or visit our website and fill out our online contact form.
