Dental Bridges
Dental Bridges For Missing Teeth | General & Restorative Dentist Near Me In Waterville, Maine
Dental bridges are a major step toward having the smile you want!
Dental bridges are one of the most far-reaching and effective steps for patients working to reclaim their smile. That’s because dental bridges replace one or more missing teeth at once. It’s effective both as far as your dental health AND cost.
First, the bridge is readied and is placed between anchor teeth also known as abutment teeth. These natural teeth, or implants, hold the dental bridge in place. Various materials can be used in the making of a dental bridge, including gold, alloys, and porcelain.
Dental Bridges
Are Dental Bridges For You?
Consider The Benefits:
- Big step toward Total Smile Makeover.
- Creates a stronger, more natural bite.
- Improve speech and slurring of words.
- Chew like you used to chew, no more “selective chewing.”
- Helps to maintain facial structure.
- Keeps teeth in position and working effectively.
Dental Bridges: Options?
First up, traditional bridges involve constructing a highly customized crown or dental implant on both sides of a missing tooth. The pontic, or bridge, goes between. These traditional dental bridges are often made with porcelain, then fused to metal or ceramics.
Here at Waterville Family Dentistry, we take time to examine and consult with our patients when deciding the best course of treatment for each individual. Other types include cantilever bridges and Maryland bonded bridges, both can be effective in certain situations, but are much less common.
Some Helpful
FYI’s:
- With good oral health practices and regular check-ups at Waterville Family Dentistry, it’s common for dental bridges to last around 10 years with the full range being 5-15 years in most cases.
- After the bridge is in place, it’s important to chew carefully and eat soft foods–just until you get used to it.
- Just like chewing, speech may be slightly and temporarily affected by a dental bridge, but overall it should improve.
- In addition to brushing, flossing, and preventative maintenance, don’t forget a balanced, nutritious diet also matters when it comes to total oral health.
Start To Finish: The Dental Bridges Process
Visit 1: Anchor Teeth Prepared
When a patient begins the process of replacing missing teeth with a dental bridge, first the anchor teeth on both sides are prepared. These teeth are recontoured and just enough enamel removed to make space for the crown.
Visit 2:
Impressions Of Teeth Made, Temporary Bridge Installed
Then, we create impressions of the teeth in order to build the bridge, pontic (replacement teeth), and crowns. Your local Waterville dentist will make a temporary bridge while the permanent one is being carefully engineered to fit your mouth and make your smile the best it can be.
Visit 3:
Permanent Dental Bridge Fixed In Place
At the next visit, the temporary bridge is replaced with the new porcelain one. Then, the dentist will carefully install and adjust it until the fit is perfect. Once the bridge is fixed into place, it will provide stability and greatly contribute to overall oral health.
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Your first visit won’t be your last.
We look forward to having you join our family here at Waterville Family Dentistry!