Dental bridges are an essential component of the treatment approach in restorative dentistry aimed at restoring the lost teeth and at the same time functionality of the patients’ mouth. Should a person lose his or her tooth to decay, an injury or extraction, then that space causes issues that include: These can include tasks as simple as chewing and speaking to the shifting of the teeth in close proximity to one another which leads to changes in the alignment of a person’s bite. Dental bridges solve such problems by having an artificial tooth – a pontic – that literally ‘spans’ the gap created by one or more missing teeth, in a permanent manner, and which is made to look and function almost identically to a natural tooth.
A dental dridges cleveland arrangement involves two or more crowns for the teeth on both sides of the gap; these are known as abutment teeth and includes a fake tooth or several teeth in mid of them. E. max porcelain is common as it is like natural teeth due to its ability to match the existing shade of teeth. The choice of the material is based on some factors which include the position of the missing tooth, the state of the other teeth and the price, and the appearance of the person.
Dental bridges can be classified according to the type of tooth used to anchor them which include the following:. The most widely used is called the fixed dental bridge, in which a crown is prepared for the tooth or the dental implant on either side of the missing toothgap with a pontic in between. This option is a lesser-known one and is used more selectively, and namely on teeth that are under less pressure, for example, the incisors. The third type is the Maryland bonded bridge which is also called resin-bonded bridge since it employs a metal or porcelain framework to cement the pontic on the back side of the neighbouring teeth. This type of a bridge is used when the front teeth are missing and this is more preferred because it does not need crowns on the adjacent teeth. The fourth and at the same time the most complex type of bridge must be implant-supported bridge, which is mentioned in the name as being anchored in dental implants instead of crowns or frameworks. This type is mostly employed where several teeth are missing with a view of giving a stable and long lasting result.
The first appointment involves the preparation of the abutment teeth which is done by eliminating a part of the outer covering of the teeth known as enamel so as to provide adequate space for the placement of crowns. Specially designed temporary bridge is put into place in order to cover the exposed teeth and gums. During the second visit the temporary bridge is pulled out and the new permanent one examined and en Windows adjusted and cemented. However, if an implant-supported bridge is to be used then there are further steps that are taken, in which implants are surgically inserted into the jawbone and which then have to osseointegrate before the bridge can be affixed.
The dental bridge needs to be well cared by brushing same like other natural teeth and they need regular dental check up. There is need to brush and floss regularly to avoid break down of teeth and gums that may lead to loss of the dental bridge as well as the healthy teeth that are next to it. As for the under the pontic, the use of special floss threaders is suggested so that no food residues or other types of plaque can build up.
The benefits of dental bridges reach further than enhancement of the smile of the patient. In regards to functionality, bridgework contributes to the ability to chew and speak effectively, correctly divide the forces in the bite as well as preserve the facial shape which, due to missing teeth may appear concave.
