Fixed and Removable Bridges
At Sandwich Dental Associates, if you are missing one or more teeth, your dentist may recommend a dental bridge or tooth bridge as an esthetic solution. This technique also prevents the surrounding healthy teeth from shifting and moving into the empty space created by missing teeth.
What Is a Dental Bridge?
A bridge is a prosthesis (replacement portion) that is supported by healthy teeth on either side of the gap caused by missing teeth. Abutments, or healthy adjacent teeth, offer support on both sides, similar to a bridge across a chasm.
There are two main types of bridges: fixed and removable:
Removable Bridge: When numerous teeth are gone and the supporting jawbone is badly weakened, your dentist will propose a detachable dental bridge. A removable bridge is made up of replacement teeth that are attached to a gum-colored plastic support base and are held together by a metal framework. Metal clasps are used to secure the bridge to existing teeth or implants. By providing support where the lost bone and tissues once were, the plastic basis restores the natural facial esthetics.
Fixed Bridge: A fixed bridge is often recommended for patients who have lost one or more teeth but have not experienced considerable bone loss. A fixed dental bridge consists of two or more crowns cemented to the anchor teeth on either side of the gap, with false teeth in the middle.
Benefits of a Dental Bridge
The following are some of the advantages of a dental bridge:
- Prevents the remaining teeth from shifting.
- Allows you to naturally eat, speak, and smile.
- Maintains optimum biting alignment and uniform distribution of bite force.
- Maintains the shape’s aesthetic integrity.
- Your smile’s natural function, appearance, and beauty are restored.