Dental Bridges: What Are They, What Types Are Available, and What Are the Benefits?

Having a gap in your smile can be a real confidence buster. At the same time, missing teeth can cause you to have other dental issues such as a pruned jaw, having other loose teeth, and poor speech.

Thankfully, we have many teeth replacement options at our general dental practice, including dental bridges in Quincy, MA, that can help restore your smile. Having missing teeth shouldn’t be a way of life, so let’s see what dental bridges in Quincy, MA, can do for your smile.

About Dental Bridges

Generally, a dental bridge is fashioned from porcelain and is attached to a metal framework. It has two parts, a false tooth (pontics) and two crowns. The pontic or false tooth is what “bridges” the gap, hence the name dental bridges. The crowns are fixed on either side of the pontic to hold the false tooth (pontic) in place.

The pontic covers the gap, and the crowns cover the natural teeth on either side of the gap. Your natural teeth act as anchorage for the tooth bridge and are known as abutment teeth. For these teeth to be used as anchors, they have to be stable.

You also need to bear in mind that your natural teeth have to be prepared to accommodate the crowns. This means that the enamel has to be removed, thus making the procedure irreversible.

The pontics are made from porcelain or other materials, and the crowns are typically fashioned from zirconia or porcelain.

Types of Dental Bridges

Several dental bridges are available within our general dentistry in Quincy, MA, such as:

• Traditional/Conventional Bridges

These are the most common bridges. They consist of a false tooth (pontics) held in place with two crowns, one on either side of the pontic. They are an excellent solution if you have sturdy teeth on either side of the gap. They are ideal for posterior teeth restorations. As you already know, the procedure is permanent since our Quincy dentist has to remove some of the enamel so that the crowns can fit.

• Maryland Bridges

This is the conservative form of traditional bridges. This dental bridge has a false tooth that is attached to either a porcelain or metal framework, which holds the pontic in place. The metal or porcelain framework is fixed on the back of the teeth that are adjacent to the gap.

The framework plays the same role as the crowns in traditional bridges and eliminates the need for the crowns. Therefore, there will be no need to remove some of the enamel. The only disadvantage of using these bridges is that they are not sturdy enough to withstand biting force, and therefore, not good for posterior tooth restorations.

• Implant-Supported Bridges

Implant-supported bridges are similar to traditional bridges, but the major difference is that the crowns will be attached to implants instead of natural teeth. Implant bridges are ideal for people who have lost many teeth. Dental implants are inserted where there are missing teeth so that they can hold the bridge in place.

Our dentists in Quincy will not place an implant for every missing tooth. Therefore, some crowns will be hanging in between the anchored crowns.

Implant-supported bridges are very comfortable and feel natural since implants support them. The only downside is that you have to undergo two surgeries; the first for implant placement, the second for bridge placement. You will have to wait for roughly five months before you get your new smile.

• Cantilever Bridges

Cantilever bridges are similar to conventional bridges; however, the only difference is that they have one crown attached to the pontic (false tooth) instead of two. It is an excellent solution if you have one natural tooth adjacent to the gap.

The only issue with this bridge is that it can act as a lever since the crown is supported by one natural tooth.

Benefits of Bridges

Here are some benefits that come with choosing bridges:

• They restore your facial integrity
• They stop the teeth adjacent to the gap from becoming loose
• They restore your speech
• They restore your smile

If you have any dental issues or are in need of any dental help, you can contact our Quincy dentist at Quincy Dental Associates.