Tooth loss is a common problem that affects numerous people throughout the country. Currently, there is approximately 178 million people missing at least one tooth with 40 million missing all of their teeth. The good new is that just because you’ve suffered from tooth loss in the past doesn’t mean that you need to spend the rest of your life with empty spaces in your smile. At ProSmiles Dental & Orthodontics of Hurst, we offer customized dental bridges so you can say goodbye to unsightly gaps. To learn more about dental bridges in Hurst, contact our office!
A dental bridge is a type of restoration that’s used to replace one or several consecutive missing teeth. This can be up to four teeth in a row. The bridge is composed of two crowns and a number of replacement teeth known as “pontics.” The crowns are anchored on the adjacent teeth or implants depending on the type of bridge you end up with. Bridges can be made out of a variety of different materials, but porcelain is usually ideal because of its durability and natural appearance.
If it’s determined that you make a good candidate for a dental bridge, there are two different types you could end up with. Here’s what each one entails:
If you still have healthy teeth on each side of the gap that needs to be filled in, a traditional bridge is ideal. The teeth that support crowns are know as “abutment teeth,” and they need to be altered slightly for the bridge to fit properly. This type of bridge can be placed in just a few visits and is typically more affordable than its implant alternative.
Dental implant bridges can be used when there are three or more missing teeth in a row. Instead of being placed over the abutment teeth, the crowns are placed on the titanium posts that will merge with the jawbone and act as artificial tooth roots. Implant bridges last much longer than traditional bridges on average and help to prevent bone loss from occurring thanks to missing teeth.
A traditional dental bridge is a relatively simple and cost-effective option when it comes to replacing missing teeth. It provides strength and stability for chewing and speaking, helps to support the shape of the face, and prevents your natural teeth from shifting out of place and leading to misalignment issues in the future.
