Contemplating Getting Dental Bridges? Here Are 4 Health Benefits You Need to Know

Having missing pearly whites is not an enjoyable experience. However, if you are looking for a quick solution, dental bridges are one replacement method that you should try out. Missing teeth are common, but you shouldn’t let your smile be marred when such innovative replacement methods exist.

Missing teeth will always come with several issues, including sagging facial muscles, chewing problems, poor dental aesthetics, etc. However, when you undergo the dental bridge treatment process, you can replace one or several missing teeth.

Dental bridges come with lots of benefits. But before we delve into that, let’s find out more about them.

Dental Bridges, In a Nutshell

A dental bridge is a dental prosthetic designed to close or bridge the gap your missing tooth had occupied. For a dental bridge to be effective is has two main parts:

• Pontic. This is the replacement or false tooth that is used to fill the gap.
• Dental crowns. These are used to hold the pontic or false tooth in place. They are fixed on either side of the pontic.

Dental bridges cannot work without having healthy natural teeth adjacent to the gap. However, these adjacent teeth have to be prepared to accommodate the crowns. This means that some of the enamel will be chiseled away.

What Are the Different Types of Dental Bridges?

Thanks to technology, we have four types of dental bridges:

• Traditional Bridges

By far, these bridges are used the most. They have one pontic and two dental crowns attached on either side of the replacement tooth. Therefore, they can only be used when you have healthy and sturdy natural teeth adjacent to the gap.

• Maryland Bridges

Maryland bridges are similar to conventional bridges with one main difference. The pontic is attached to a porcelain or metal framework. Since they don’t have crowns, there will be no need to remove the enamel from the teeth adjacent to the empty socket.

• Cantilever Bridges

The cantilever bridge is also similar to the traditional bridges. However, they only have one crown attached to the false tooth instead of two, as is the case with conventional bridges.

• Implant-Supported Bridges

If you have lost several teeth, implant-supported bridges are the best solution. This is because these bridges are attached to dental implants instead of your natural teeth. However, they are comfortable and feel like your natural pearly whites.

Health Benefits of Dental Bridges

As mentioned earlier, having missing teeth will come with issues. This is why it is best to get a tooth replacement as soon as possible. So, here are some of the health benefits of using dental bridges:

1.Improve Chewing

When you lose a tooth, you may experience pain or difficulty while eating food. The pain can be caused by your teeth shifting or moving toward the open space. Also, food particles have the knack of collecting in the empty socket. This means that the gum can be damaged.
Dental bridges can permanently alleviate the pain since they replace the missing tooth. So, you can enjoy your favorite meals without difficulty or pain.

2. Maintain the Shape of Your Face

Your teeth have several significant roles, and one of them is maintaining the shape of your face. If you have lost several teeth and you have not replaced them, you may notice that your face may look pruned at the jaw. This is because your facial muscles start sagging when they are not held in place by your teeth.

Therefore, getting dental bridges can ensure that you maintain the shape of your face.

3. Prevent Further Tooth Loss

Did you know that your teeth are held in place not only by the root but also by the surrounding teeth? This means that if you lose a tooth, you can expect the tooth adjacent to the empty socket to tilt toward the open space. Eventually, the tooth becomes loose, and you stand the risk of losing another tooth. A dental bridge will fill the empty socket, thus keeping the nearby teeth in their place.

4. Maintaining Jaw Bone Tissue

The tooth roots stimulate the jaw bone cells. So, when you lose a tooth, the jaw bone begins to deteriorate, which might lead to further tooth loss, and at times, facial collapse. A dental bridge can help prevent this from happening.

If you have lost a tooth, contact our dentist at York Dental Group.