Your Dental Bridge Information Guide

If there’s a gap ruining your healthy smile, your affordable dentist may be able to fix it by creating a dental bridge. A bridge fills in the gap with false teeth supported by crowns made for the teeth on both sides of the gap. The anchoring teeth are abutment teeth; the false teeth between them are called pontics. The pontics in your bridge can be formed from gold or gold alloys, porcelain, or a combination of porcelain and metal.

The 3 Types of Teeth Bridges

Traditional bridges are the most common and consist of a simple pontic or pontics positioned between abutment teeth. A Maryland bonded bridge is made from porcelain, metal, or plastic teeth and gums supported by a metal or porcelain framework. Finally, a cantilever bridge is used when there are only adjacent teeth available on one side of the missing teeth.

Dental Bridges and their Benefits

Dental bridges can provide the following benefits. They serve to:

• Restore your smile
• Help maintain your facial shape
• Correctly distribute bite force
• Help you chew and speak properly
• Prevent the drifting of other teeth

The Procedure for Getting a Dental Bridge

Creating and placing a bridge requires at least two dental visits. First, your abutment teeth are contoured, and a portion of enamel is removed to make room for a new crown. Next, tooth impressions are created to use as models for the crowns and pontics. You will wear a temporary bridge while the permanent one is being created. At your second affordable dentist visit, the new bridge will be fitted and adjusted. It may require several dentist health visits to ensure the bridge fits and functions as it should.

How a Dental Bridge will affect Eating and Speaking

Eating and speaking should actually be easier with a dental bridge in place than it was with missing teeth. You will probably want to stick to soft foods for a few days while you adjust to the new appliance.

How Long do Teeth Bridges Last?

If you maintain good oral hygiene and schedule regular dentist health visits, your bridge may last up to 15 years or longer.

Dentist Health Resources: Find the Best Dentist South Bend Provides

Finding an affordable dentist to accommodate both your dental health needs and your budget limits is of vital importance. Start by checking your local listings and contacting dental societies. You’ll soon find the best dentist South Bend has to offer.

To learn about our family dentistry practice in South Bend, call The Dental Center of Indiana today or make an appointment.