Dental Bridge Options
A dental bridge — is used to replace missing teeth —by “bridging” the gap of the missing tooth/teeth with artificial teeth connected to intact permanent teeth, called abutment teeth, with crowns.
If you’re missing one or more teeth, you may be aware of their importance to your appearance and dental health. Your teeth work together for many daily functions from eating to speaking. With missing teeth, it’s difficult to do these things. Missing teeth can and should be replaced. Fixed bridges are a way to restore your dental health and appearance.
A bridge (fixed partial denture) is a device which fills the gap where teeth are absent. Fixed bridges are bonded into place and can only be removed by a dental professional. Removable bridges, as the name implies, can be taken out and cleaned. Fixed bridges offer more stability than their removable counterparts.
Dental health is the most important reason for a bridge. Teeth were designed to complement each other. Unusual stresses are placed on the gums and other oral tissues when teeth are missing, causing a number of potentially harmful disorders.
Teeth surrounding a missing tooth tend to drift, lean or over-erupt into the space causing unnatural stresses on those teeth and potentially risking their longevity as well as normal bite/jaw function. Increased risk of gum disease has proven to be one of the worst side effects of missing teeth and can be minimized with a bridge.