Why Do I Need a Dental Bridge?

When you are missing one or more teeth, there are a few choices to make. One approach is to simply live the gap created by the loss of one or two teeth. Another solution is to employ some type of dental prosthetic to fill in that space. If you opt for the latter, it's worth your time and effort to find out what dental bridges have to offer.

Dental bridges are prosthetics that are designed to span the gap created by missing teeth. They are anchored to the healthy teeth on each side of the gap and will last for years. Do you really need a dental bridge? Before you answer, consider these benefits that bridges provide.

Replace Teeth That Had to Be Removed

Cavities or other dental issues has led to the loss of two or three teeth and the creation of a gap. For more than one reason, you want to fill in that empty space. You’ll find that dental bridges in Toronto are one of the most practical ways to take care of the gap.

As your dentist will explain, there is more than one type of bridge. Is a dental bridge removable? There is a class or category of bridges that can be removed for cleaning if you like. You’ll also find that some bridges are permanently fixed in position. Your dentist will go over the benefits associated with each type and recommend a solution based on your particular situation.

Or Replace Teeth That You Lost in An Accident

Perhaps you were expecting to lose teeth due to decay or some other issue. Certainly, undergoing some type of dental bridges procedure makes a lot of sense. The same holds true if you happen to lose healthy teeth in some sort of an accident.

One of the first things the dental team will do is assess the damage. When it’s determine that the teeth are too damaged to repair, removing what’s left and finding a replacement is the only real option. In this instance, a dental bridge is relatively fast, will not require inserting anything into the gum, and will function quite well?

Is it painful to get a bridge? If you’ve been in an accident, it may be necessary to recover before the bridge can be put in place. You’ll find that while there may be the need to alter the teeth on each side of the gap a little, the dental team will administer some sort of anesthetic to deaden the gum. If necessary, they may also offer you the option of receiving some sort of sedation. In any case, you will experience little to no discomfort while the bridge is installed.

Maintaining the Contours of Your Face

What would happen to the contour of your face is you suddenly had two or three molars missing? At first, you may think that it would make no difference. In fact, the missing teeth would tend to make the area under the cheek look slightly sunken compared to the other side. While that may not seem like a big problem, it can make your face seem a little uneven.

The nice thing about all types of dental bridges is they fill in the space recently vacated by those teeth. They also help to keep that side of your face from taking on a slightly sunken look. If you would rather people not know that you are missing any natural teeth, a properly fitted bridge will ensure the contours of the face look just as they have in the past.

So how do you take care of a dental bridge? There are some differences in how you take care of a removable bridge versus a permanent one. Your dentist will provide suggestions for brushes, cleaning agents, and other basics depending on the type of bridge you receive. With any option, you’ll find taking care of the bridge is not difficult.

Distribute the Force of Your Bite Evenly

Did you realize that a gap negatively impacts the ability to bite? Essentially, the teeth that are still in place have to absorb the pressure involved in biting. That makes the distribution of that force uneven. Over time, that leads to additional wear and tear on the remaining teeth. Unless you want to deal with more dental issues later on, it makes sense to prevent that extra wear and tear from happening.

That’s where undergoing a tooth bridge procedure comes into play. The bridge restores the even distribution of force that existed before losing those teeth. As a result, you can bite with less problems and ensure that doing so isn’t likely to lead to more problems with the teeth on each side of the gap.

Since the teeth on each side are used to anchor the bridge, it’s only natural to wonder how that works. Just how is a bridge attached to teeth? With removable designs, there are usually loops that make it easy to slide over the anchor teeth. If you opt for a permanent bridge, the use of bonding material and crowns along the top help to ensure it remains in position. With either approach, you’ll find that the bridge functions a great deal like real teeth.

And Make It Easier to Chew Properly

Just as missing teeth impact the way you bite, they can interfere with chewing properly. You may try to compensate by chewing on the opposite side of the mouth, but that won’t prevent food particles from settling into the gap. It could also mean that your food is not chewed sufficiently. That in turn could lead to more bouts with indigestion.

You’ll find that dental bridges restore your ability to chew food thoroughly. Instead of trying to remember to chew on the opposite side, you can chew any way that you like. The odds that the food is properly chewed before you swallow are much higher. That means you are less likely to deal with heartburn or other digestive issues after your meals.

Another perk associated with chewing with a bridge in place is that food residue cannot settle into the gap. That means one less place for bacteria to form and a reduction in the potential for damage to the gum or the surrounding teeth.

You’ll Also Be Able to Speak Clearly

Have you ever considered how much your teeth aid in pronouncing different words properly? It’s only when there are gaps that most people realize how much the interaction of the tongue and the teeth help with speaking clearly. You’ll find that the right type of bridge compensates for the missing teeth and makes it much easier to speak clearly and keep your enunciation crisp.

When it comes to speaking clearly, is a bridge better than an implant? Many people would say no. Both options work to fill in the space and make it possible to speak without difficulties. The benefit of a bridge is that it’s less invasive than an any type of dental implant in Toronto and can certainly be put in position in less time than individual implants.

And Feel Confident That Your Smile Looks Great

Are you wondering if dental bridges look natural? The answer is yes. The bridges designed today are better than anything offered in the past. The proportion and the customization that goes into the creation of a bridge ensures the fit is just right. With any type of bridge, others would have to look closely before they would even suspect that all of your teeth were not the real thing. The result is that your smile is attractive and you can feel confident in the way it looks.

Bridges Also Prevent Teeth From Drifting Out of Position

There’s another excellent reason to fill in that gap. The open space provides more of an opportunity for the surrounding teeth to shift out of position. It won’t happen overnight, but it will happen. Gradually, the misaligned teeth will impact your bite and leave you open to a wider range of dental issues.

When you are looking over the dental bridge cost estimate, consider how getting the bridge will reduce the risk of drifting teeth and the conditions that can result. It won’t be hard to see why the bridge is a more cost effective solution compared to the work it would take to correct all those other problems later on.

The bottom line is that dental bridges are a practical and reasonable replacement for those missing teeth. Talk with your dentist about the different types of bridges, why a particular one would be best for you, and what you can expect in terms of possible dental bridge problems, the process for fitting and installing the bridge, maintenance and upkeep, and how long the bridge is likely to last. Once you have the bridge in place and start enjoying the benefits, you’ll know that the decision to invest in it was a smart one.