We all know how a missing teeth can be a source of stress. After all, how your smile appears depend on it. But fret not beecause your dentist can easily close or fill in that gap in your  mouth with dental bridges.

To put things in perspective, it is a restorative treatment responsible for replacing gaps between teeth with natural looking prosthetics. The structure can vary and is applied differently depending on the area in the mouth.

Basically, a dental bridge refers to a false tooth, named pontic.  The abutment teeth is what keeps it in place on both the sides of the gap. While pontics can be manufactured using different materials, porcelain is generally prefered. This is because porcelain can easily blend in with the natural color of teeth and therefore, looks aesthetically pleasing.

At Ser&em Dental Clinic, we offer the following types of dental bridges.

Types Of Dental Bridges At Ser&em Dental Clinic

1- Traditional Dental Bridge

A traditional dental bridge consists of 3 to 4 consecutive crowns. To be suitable for traditional bridges, it is important that you have healthy teeth at the end of each gap. Or even dental implants. Why? Because your dentist cement the crowns on the tooth or dental implant on both ends. So, if the dental bridge consists of 4 crowns, then two will go in the middle replacing the gaps. On the other hand, the last and first will be cemented over neighbour teeth or implants.

Speaking of this, the traditional dental bridge is most suitable for teeth at the back.

2- Maryland Dental Bridge

The Maryland dental bridge comes in the form of a tooth with wing-like metals on each side. Marlyland bridge replaces a gap and holds its anchor by cementing its wings on the back of the teeth adjacent to it. Similar to traditional dental bridge, you need to have teeth or dental implants on either side of the gap.

Maryland bridge is best for teeth on the front that are visible when you smile. This is because they don’t have sufficient force to handle the pressure molars do.

3- Cantilever Dental Bridge

With a cantilever bridge, the structure comes in the form of a tooth attached to a dental crown. The tooth replaces a missing gap and gains anchor by cementing the adjacent crown on a neighbour tooth or a dental implant.

A cantilever dental bridge is best for teeth near the canines or canines themselves. They’re only suitable if you have only one missing tooth.

They are not suitable for the back teeth because the pressure and force is immense on the molars. In other words, cantilever dental bridge can’t handle this degree of force.

The Procedure

The first and foremost step of the procedure begins by your dentist when he evaluates your oral health. It is imperative that a patient is clear of any underlying issues before placement of a dental bridge.

Next comes the evaluation of your mouth and of course, the missing teeth. You need to have teeth at each end of the gap for proper placement. If that is not the case, then your dentist will suggest getting implants beforehand. This is because for traditional dental bridges to be cemented, it is crucial to have natural teeth or dental implants.

Then comes the step of choosing material for your bridge. At Ser&em Dental Clinic, we have a comprehensive guide for our patients on choosing the appropriate material. Our dentists will recommend the best material for you according to the following:

  • History of allergy
  • Price range
  • Aesthetic goals

After this, our dentists will take impressions of your mouth and send these details to a lab. It takes a few weeks for a customized dental bridge to get prepared. However, if you are looking for a dental bridge made instantaneously, we recommend that you consider our CEREC technology.

CEREC Dental Bridge

CEREC (Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics) is an alternative method that helps formulate dental restorations, including dental bridges. By using artificial intelligence, computer-assisted design and manufacturing, and 3D printers, you can get your customized dental bridge right away in just one session. Granted you’re opting for ceramic as the raw material for your dental bridge.

If there are no other dental treamtments involved before bridges are placed, a patient can recieve their crowns and bridges in one visit.  Where traditional crowns and bridges takes one to two weeks coupled with at least two visits,  CEREC technology at Ser&em Dental Clinic manufactures the restorations in one or maximum two hours.

The Cost

It is difficult to standardize the treatment cost. This is because it’s dependent on type and the material you opt for, as well as techniques such as CEREC.

Benefits Of Dental Bridge

It addresses multiple issues that teeth-loss can cause. These include:

  • Fixing speech problems and pronunciation
  • Restoring the aesthetic appeal of a smile
  • Improving chewing
  • Improving bite and adjusting force distribution across the jaw
  • Stopping your teeth from moving which is a phenomenon that occurs over extended period of tooth-loss

Frequently Asked Questions

How Long Such a Restoration Last?

It usually comes with a maximum longevity of 15 years.  This is when proper aftercare is done. Regular dental follow-ups, proper brushing and flossing, in addition to professional cleanings can end up extending the longevity of these restorations.

Are They Removable?

No, they are not! This treatment is fixed in nature, which means, they stay in all day and night. If you are looking for an option that is removable, we recommend getting dentures.

Are CEREC Bridges Reliable?

Considering that they are manufactured using digital measurements, rest assured for they are not only reliable but highly accurate. This is because the digital measurements complete eliminates any variable that might result in inaccuracy, such as an ill=fitted tray or extra saliva.

Is It Difficult to Eat With a Bridge?

Not really! In fact, filling in the gap using dental bridges caused by the missing teeth makes it fairly easy to eat. However, we suggest cutting soft food into smaller pieces initially till the time you get used to having bridges.