What are Dental Bridges?
If you’ve recently lost a tooth from injury, medical issues, or other natural causes, you may wonder how to restore your smile since it creates gaps and cosmetic issues, along with pain when you chew, jaw discomfort, and other problems. But, dental bridges can help, and here, we’ll talk about all that these bridges can do for you.
A dental bridge is when you lose a tooth, and essentially the replacement is put in to the gap that you have, creating a more natural look. There are four types, with the traditional being the most common, and usually, crowns are put there and are cemented to the teeth that are missing.
You also may get a cantilever bridge, which is supported by a grown on one side if you have multiple missing teeth, you may have this one, and if you only have one, usually the cantilever bridge is used, and it uses metal or porcelain framework to keep the teeth there. They aren’t as strong if they’re cantilever, but they may be used in some cases.
The final type is an implant supported one, which is when implants are put in, and usually, these are the most stable types.
When these are placed, typically you’re fully awake, but if you do feel nervous, you can get sedation. You may also be numbed with anesthetic directly onto the gums, and sometimes a topical jelly is used.
First, imprints are taken of the mouth, and a custom bridge is made in there. You may have to bite down a bit onto foam to help with this, and your dentist can put temporary crowns in there too. Usually, when finished the temporary crowns are removed, and then there is cement that’s put in there instead.
During the time you get the procedure, you probably won’t’ feel pain because of the anesthetic and sedation. You may feel soreness or discomfort though since you are keeping your mouth open for a long time. Usually, pain relievers or even an ice pack is something that you’ll probably use with this. The recovery on this is minimal, in that you can eat normally once the bridge is placed. Most patients don’t have issues with bridges, but if you feel pain, you could have some issues and you may have to have ti readjusted.
They are simple procedures that are good for improving the cosmetic look of your smile. If you have multiple missing teeth and have chewing problems, this is ultimately a good solution. A bridge will eliminate the issues with eating, and you won’t have to worry about speech issues either. Usually, with the right treatment, these missing or damaged teeth don’t impact the smile too much, and bridges have so many advantages, and you can use this treatment if you feel like you desire it, since it is a good option. It’s a better way to restore your smile and feel better about the way that you look too.
