Dental bridges are a popular dental restoration that is used to replace missing teeth. Whether your teeth have fallen out or you have had to get them extracted due to severe dental decay, having missing teeth can be frustrating, and dental bridges in Okotoks are an excellent solution. At Essential Dentistry, we are happy to provide our patients with options for dental bridges.
Read more to find out which type of dental bridge is best for your needs.
What Are Dental Bridges?
True to their name, dental bridges work to bridge the gap caused by a missing tooth. In most cases, they use the teeth on either side of the gap as anchors, while the artificial tooth fills the gap in the middle. Dental bridges provide a natural appearance and durable bite.
To determine if you are a viable candidate for a dental bridge, your dentist near you will examine your mouth. Depending on the location of your missing tooth, a dental bridge may or may not be right for your needs. Your dentist may need to take some digital images of your mouth using x-rays to evaluate the condition of your bone structure.
If it is found that you are a viable candidate for dental bridges near you, your dentist will work with you to determine which type of dental bridge is most suitable for your needs. There are four main types of dental bridges available:
Traditional Dental Bridges
A traditional dental bridge is the most popular form of the dental bridge. This dental bridge is made from dental crowns adhered to the surrounding natural teeth and works to anchor the artificial tooth in the gap. With this type of dental bridge, your dentist in Okotoks will have to shave down your natural teeth on either side of the gap to make room for the dental crowns. The main benefit of traditional dental bridges is that they are very strong; however, a drawback is the permanent alterations that will have to be made to your natural, healthy teeth on either side of the gap.
Maryland Bonded Bridges
These bridges also use the same structure as traditional dental bridges, but instead of using dental crowns as anchors, they use porcelain or metal to secure themselves in the mouth. This takes away the need to modify your otherwise healthy adjacent teeth. This is the most conservative and affordable dental bridge, but Maryland bonded bridges are not as strong as traditional dental bridges.
Cantilever Dental Bridges
These dental bridges are similar to traditional dental bridges, but they only require one dental crown to adhere to one tooth rather than two. These are not used as often as other dental bridges and are often only placed toward the front of the mouth. These bridges are not recommended for replacing teeth at the back of the mouth since they can place too much strain on a single tooth.
Implant-Supported Bridges
Implant-supported dental bridges use the same structure as traditional bridges, but they use dental implants as anchors. Due to this, implant-support dental bridges do not require adjacent teeth and can replace multiple missing teeth in a row. Implant-supported bridges are the most durable and permanent bridges available; however, they also require the most invasive procedure.
Visit Essential Dentistry
If you are considering getting a dental bridge, contact our team at Essential Dentistry. Our dentist will work with you to help you decide which dental bridge is best suited for your needs and ensure that you leave feeling confident and satisfied with your smile. Please contact our clinic to book a consultation today!