It’s Time to Cross That Line (or Bridge)
You may have noticed on another page on our Abbotsford Dental website or have already accrued enough dental knowledge to be aware that Dental Crowns are used in conjunction with Dental bridges. They are both prosthetic devices that are cemented onto existing teeth or implants, but while Dental Crowns are used to ‘cap’ a tooth or cover a damaged tooth entirely, bridges are commonly used to cover a space if you’re missing one or more teeth. Together, dental bridges and crowns can improve the appearance of your tooth or teeth, their shape, alignment, and your dental occlusion (which is your bite.) As a side note, gaps left by missing teeth can force your other teeth to shift, which can again, result in a poor and an unwanted bite.
Luckily, bridges and crowns prevent this from happening.
There are different types of dental bridges, and we’ll briefly discuss each one in the information below, but if you find yourself in a position where a Dental Bridge has been recommended, your dentist at the Abbotsford Dental Clinic will walk you through in detail the best available option and the costs involved.
Types of Dental Bridges:
There are 3 main types of dental bridges, and your dentist at Abbotsford Dental will go into an in-depth look at which one suits you best
1. Traditional Bridges
This is the most common type of bridge and usually made of either porcelain or ceramic material. It involves creating a crown for the tooth or embed on either side of the missing tooth, while placing a pontic in between.
2. Resin-bonded Bridges
This type of bridge is also known as Maryland bridges or a Maryland bridge. It is generally considered minimally invasive and for your peace of mind, the resin-retained bridge has gone through a number of iterations and is now an effective and sturdy form of treatment. They are made of porcelain, porcelain fused to metal, or plastic teeth and gums supported by a metal or porcelain framework. Your existing teeth are bonded with metal or porcelain wings often on just one side of the bridge.
3. Cantilever Bridges
This type of dental bridge is commonly used when there are adjacent teeth on only one side of your lost tooth.
A Bridge to Happiness
An unsightly or poor bite and a smile full of gaps can wreak havoc with your confidence and self-esteem. If you are self-conscious about your missing teeth or if your mouth has become uncomfortable when chewing and eating, then a bridge might be able to restore your confidence, oral function, and emotional equilibrium. A dental bridge is a permanent fix and something that doesn’t require further maintenance for unlike a denture, which you have to remove and clean at your own discretion, a bridge is dental fixture that can only be removed by your qualified Dentist.