Dental bridge in Archer Ave. - Chicago, IL

A dental bridge contains an artificial tooth that can fill the gap of a missing tooth. The new tooth is secured into place by two crowns on either side of it. Dental bridges can also help restore your smile by preventing any loss of facial structure.

Dental bridges can be a great remedy for filling missing teeth and preserving your mouth and facial structure. For example, if you’re missing a tooth in the lower jaw, a tooth in your upper jaw may shift down into the new space. This is how your smile can become misaligned, changing the shape of your mouth and putting uncomfortable stress on your teeth and jaw joints.

To prevent these oral health issues, it’s best to address a missing tooth proactively with your Forever Dental care team—which is where a dental bridge can help.

During your first visit, your Forever Dental care team prepares each tooth on either side of the gap. Afterward, they will make an impression, or a digital scan, of your teeth to craft a bridge that will fit specifically to your smile.

Your dentist will then place a temporary bridge to protect your teeth while your permanent dental bridge is being constructed. Once the permanent bridge is finished, it’s time to revisit your local Forever Dental to have it fitted and adjusted. After everything fits comfortably, the permanent bridge will be secured into place using dental cement.

Because of the varying factors involved, costs for bridges can fluctuate depending on your unique situation. A few things that can impact cost are the number of teeth being replaced, what the bridge is made of, your dental insurance coverage, your dentist’s financing, as well as any additional procedures needed to complete dental bridge treatment.

Dental bridges offer many benefits. But there are some drawbacks, too:

Advantages of dental bridges

Dental bridges can:

• Offer a natural-looking solution for tooth loss.
• Restore chewing and speech function (missing teeth can make it difficult to eat or speak properly).
• Prevent neighboring teeth from shifting into the gap left behind by missing teeth.

Disadvantages of dental bridges

Dental bridges also have some drawbacks:

• If decay or trauma results in damage to your abutment teeth, it can weaken your dental bridge.
• If your abutment teeth aren’t strong enough to support your bridge, they can fracture.
• If you don’t properly clean the bridge and underlying gum tissue, plaque and bacteria can cause gum inflammation or cavities.

Recovery times vary from person to person and depend on several factors. On average, it takes one to two weeks for your teeth and gums to heal. But it can take a little longer for your new dental bridge to feel totally natural and comfortable.

On average, the lifespan of a dental bridge is five to 15 years. Some can last even longer with proper care and maintenance.

You may hear dentists call these “permanent bridges.” They’re permanent in the sense that only a dentist can remove them. But they don’t last forever. You’ll still need to replace them when they show signs of wear or damage.

Caring for a dental bridge is similar to caring for your natural teeth. To keep your bridge in good condition:

• Brush and floss daily.
• Use a nonabrasive fluoride toothpaste.
• Clean underneath your bridge every day using floss threaders or interproximal brushes (tiny brushes made to go between your teeth).
• Avoid extremely hard or chewy foods.
• Don’t chew on ice, pens, pencils or your fingernails.
• Visit your dentist regularly for checkups and cleanings.

You should schedule an appointment with your dentist if:

• Your bridge is loose or has visible cracks.
• You have pain when chewing.
• You develop teeth sensitivity or sore, bleeding gums.

In general, dental implants last much longer than bridges. Implants also preserve existing bone and reduce the risk of bone loss in the future.

However, everyone has unique oral health needs, goals and preferences. To determine which treatment option is best for you, talk to your dentist.

Most dentists don’t place dental bridges in people younger than 17 or 18, but there are exceptions. For example, a dentist may place a Maryland bridge if a child loses a permanent tooth. Even then, other options may work better, such as a temporary partial denture (sometimes called a “flipper”).

Most commonly, a dental bridge replaces one to three teeth in a row. In some cases, a bridge can replace up to four consecutive teeth. But keep in mind, longer bridges usually require more support. So, to replace four missing teeth with a bridge, you need healthy natural teeth on both sides of the gap.

To learn more about your teeth replacement options, talk to a dentist.

In general, you should replace missing teeth as soon as possible to prevent other teeth from shifting into the gap. However, if you need tooth extraction first, you might have to wait a few months before getting your dental bridge. This gives your gums and underlying bone time to heal.

Getting a dental bridge shouldn’t hurt. Your dentist will give you local anesthesia to numb your gums before beginning your procedure.

It can take some time to get used to your new dental bridge. But once you do, it should feel similar to your natural teeth. It’s like wearing a new ring on your finger. You’re aware of it for a while, but you eventually grow accustomed to it.

It depends. If your bridge is already loose, it’s usually easy to remove. Your dentist can often recement it with no issue. But if you need to have your bridge removed for another reason — like treating gum disease or underlying tooth decay — your bridge may break during the removal process. If this happens, you’ll need a new dental bridge.

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Bridge (dentistry) – Wikipedia – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bridge_(dentistry)

Bridges, implants, and dentures – The Journal of the American Dental Association – https://jada.ada.org/article/S0002-8177(15)00435-3/fulltext

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Dental bridge: Uses, types, recovery, and more – https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/327182