Dental bridges are an excellent, long-lasting, very comfortable solution for both restorative and cosmetic dental issues. They can bolster your oral health and make your smile stay strong and confident. And, a bridge will also prevent jaw bone loss as well as other dental issues that affect oral health.
What Are Dental Bridges?
A dental bridge is a fixed, long-lasting restoration designed to replace one or more missing teeth in your mouth. A dental bridge will fit comfortably but firmly in your mouth. The bridge will look and function just like your natural teeth. Bridges are created for a custom fit by your dentist. Some may be permanently attached through the use of an implant in order to anchor them.
A bridge is made up of two crowns and a replacement tooth or teeth. The crowns are placed on the teeth that are on either side of the space where a tooth or teeth are missing, with the fabricated tooth or teeth attached between them.
Dental Bridges Supported by Implants
By far the most secure and permanent way to place a dental bridge in your mouth is through the use of dental implants. This process offers a natural look and feel. And, the stability of porcelain implants used to support bridges make for a truly effective solution when you need to replace multiple missing teeth.
An implant supported bridge is a dental bridge secured to two or more dental implants instead of relying on your adjacent natural teeth for support. When a bridge uses natural teeth for attachment, the teeth are prepared or shaved down in order to place the crowns necessary to place the bridge.
This is not as ideal as an implant supported bridge, because once the bridge is placed, the natural teeth are subjected to increasing stress. This can be potentially damaging, most particularly if the existing tooth, roots, or surrounding bone structure are already weakened or compromised.
Using dental implants to support the dental bridge instead is a good solution, allowing stable, permanent placement which helps to support the teeth around the bridge, and the continued health of your gum and bones.
A stable, supportive implant-supported bridge is secured to two or more dental implants rather than relying on the adjacent natural teeth for support. This is a superior method for a number of reasons, including the fact that dental implants work to replace tooth roots in the mouth through the use of durable titanium alloy. Thus, both the implant fixture and abutment last a very long time - most usually for a lifetime.
How Long Do Dental Bridges Last?
With good oral hygiene and regular dental cleanings from your dental team, dental bridges can last more than 10 years. Certain types of bridges, such as implant supported bridges, will last longer than that. It’s important not to bite nails or use your teeth as tools to open things when you are wearing a bridge, just as it is important not to do so with your own teeth and risk chips or cracks.
Ready to Learn More about Dental Bridges?
If you’re ready to learn more about dental bridges or dental implants, reach out to us today. Our dental team is ready and waiting to offer dental bridge treatment.