If you have several missing teeth, you may notice disruptions in your smile’s appearance as well as your oral capabilities. You can talk to your dentist about tooth replacement solutions that can get your smile looking and feeling its best once again.
A dental bridge can be an ideal appliance to replace these teeth. And your dentist can offer several kinds of bridges that can suit your unique dental needs. Read on to learn about three types of dental bridges that can help you restore your smile after tooth loss.
Which Bridge Will Best Restore My Smile?
Removable Dental Bridges
If you want an affordable and effective way to replace your missing teeth, your dentist can give you a removable dental bridge. This partial denture features prosthetic teeth attached to an acrylic base. A metal framework uses support from remaining natural teeth to keep your appliance in place.
Many patients appreciate the comfort that comes with taking out this removable device when not needed, such as during sleep. Follow aftercare instructions from your dentist to keep your bridge in good shape. You will likely need to replace this type of appliance every five years or so.
Traditional Fixed Bridges
The traditional dental bridge is a fixed device that will remain in your smile. Your dentist keeps this device in place with help from the adjacent teeth to where your bridge will be. They refer to these teeth as abutments.
Your dentist will use each end of the bridge prosthetic as dental crowns that fit like caps over these abutment teeth. They seal into place with dental cement, ensuring a long-lasting and secure fit.
You can chew and speak with ease and confidence using this type of dental bridge without worrying the device will slip out of place at an inopportune moment. The bridge will also fill gaps in your smile and give you a gorgeous and natural-looking finish.
Implant-Supported Dental Bridges
The removable and traditional bridges replace teeth only above the gumline. For optimal restorative benefits, you should ask your dentist about an implant-supported dental bridge.
This appliance features two titanium post anchors: one for each end of the bridge prosthetic. A dentist surgically places these anchors into the jaw where they fuse with the bone for strong support.
Once these heal, your dentist will attach the bridge to the anchors at metal abutments above the gumline. The appliance will remain in place for twenty or more years with proper care. You will not need as much maintenance with this type of bridge because of its permanent nature.
You will also see further protection for your jaw in the wake of tooth loss than a removable treatment can offer. This is because the anchor serves as a replacement for the missing tooth root too.
However, you will require strong jawbone in order to successfully receive a dental implant. Schedule a consult with your dentist to determine your eligibility for this restorative treatment. They can check your jaw health using x-ray imaging.