Dental Bridges at Palmetto Family Dental

What are dental bridges?

Dental bridges are prosthetic devices used to bridge the gap created by one or more missing teeth. They consist of two or more crowns for the teeth on either side of the gap (anchoring teeth) and a false tooth/teeth in between. These false teeth are called pontics and can be made from gold, alloys, porcelain, or a combination of materials.

Why consider a dental bridge?

Dental bridges offer several benefits:

• Restoration of Smile: They fill the gaps, restoring your natural smile.
• Functionality: They restore the ability to chew and speak properly.
• Face Shape: They help in maintaining the shape of your face, preventing it from looking sunken due to missing teeth.
• Proper Bite: Distribute the forces in your bite properly by replacing missing teeth.
• Prevention: Prevent remaining teeth from drifting out of position.

Types of dental bridges

There are various types of dental bridges, including:

• Traditional Bridges: Involve creating a crown for the tooth or implant on either side of the missing tooth, with a pontic in between.
• Cantilever Bridges: Used when there are adjacent teeth on only one side of the missing tooth or teeth.
• Maryland Bonded Bridges: Made of porcelain, porcelain fused to metal, or plastic teeth and gums supported by a metal or porcelain framework.

How is the dental bridge procedure performed?

The dental bridge procedure typically requires two visits. During the first visit, the anchoring teeth are prepared by removing a portion of enamel to allow room for a crown to be placed over them. Impressions of the teeth are taken, which serve as a model from which the bridge, pontic, and crowns will be made. On the second visit, the custom-made bridge is checked and adjusted for a proper fit, then cemented into place.