If you’re missing a tooth or you think you might need to have a tooth extracted, we offer many tooth replacement options. Bridges are an older technology for crafting a fully fixed restoration–one that functions just like a natural tooth. If you have good, healthy teeth on either side of the missing tooth, then you might benefit from a dental bridge.
If you would like to learn about the best tooth replacement options in Butler, PA, please call (724) 282-4436 today for an appointment at Advanced Dentistry of Butler. Dr. Bob has been serving the community for nearly 40 years, and he’s built a reputation of excellence, one that you can trust, based on clinical expertise, long experience, and a compassionate manner.
Benefits of Dental Bridges
There are several options for replacing a missing tooth, and you have to choose carefully to make sure you get the best one for you. There are many options why you might choose a dental bridge, such as:
- Fixed restoration lets you bite and chew normally
- Restores teeth adjacent to gap
- No surgery required
- No requirements for bone at replacement site
- Highly attractive restoration
- Long-term results
Dental bridges are a good tooth replacement option in many situations. It’s especially good if your teeth on either side of a gap are damaged and would benefit from a dental crown.
A dental bridge can be used in areas where there’s not enough bone to support a dental implant. You won’t need surgery to get the restoration placed, but it’s a restoration that lets you bite and chew normally. It works like a natural tooth. And it looks like a natural tooth.
Dental bridges are also long-lasting restorations, usually lasting 10 years or more when properly placed and cared for.
How Dental Bridges Work
A dental bridge is made up of two different parts: dental crowns that fit over your natural teeth to provide support, and one or more artificial teeth, known as pontics.
To fit a dental bridge, we will prepare the supporting teeth to receive dental crowns, then take impressions. The impressions are sent to the lab, where the bridge is made. Then the bridge is fitted over the supporting teeth and bonded in place. This secures the bridge so that it functions like natural teeth.
Dental bridges are most commonly made of just three units: one artificial tooth supported by two dental crowns. But it can be made in many variations. Sometimes, there are multiple supporting crowns on each side to allow support of more than one replacement tooth in the middle. Other times, there may be only one supporting crown on one side of the replacement tooth.
Limitations of Dental Bridges
Dental bridges are good restorations when used in the right circumstances, but they do have limitations, such as:
- Can put supporting teeth at risk
- Apply extra force to supporting teeth
- Don’t stimulate the jawbone
- Can be difficult to clean
Dental bridges require that your supporting teeth endure extra force, which can put them at risk. The biggest risk is to supporting teeth used in cantilever bridges–those with supporting crowns on only one side.
Although there is extra force on the supporting teeth, there’s no force on the jawbone under the bridge, which can cause the jawbone to be resorbed, leaving a gap under the bridge.
It’s important to clean all the surfaces of the bridge, including those under the pontic, which can be a challenge.
Dental Bridge Alternatives
If you have lost a tooth, you want to replace it. Otherwise, you may experience serious oral health harms.
But a dental bridge is not the only tooth replacement option. You can also replace a missing tooth with a dental implant or dentures.
Dentures are the most affordable tooth replacement alternative, but they’re neither especially attractive nor functional.
Dental implants are the best tooth replacement option. They look and function just like natural teeth, and they can last a lifetime when properly cared for.
Which tooth replacement option is best for you? Please call (724) 282-4436 today for an appointment with Dr. Bob at Butler Advanced Dentistry. He will talk to you about your options and help you make a decision.
