About 120 million Americans lack at least one tooth, so missing teeth isn’t that rare of an issue. Still, this fact doesn’t mean you should leave large gaps in your grin untreated. The better option is to fill these spaces with dental bridges in Agawam. Here at Lifetime Dental, Dr. Michitti uses those prosthetics to bring your smile back from the brink. Please keep reading to learn more about them, or book a consultation today.
A dental bridge is a special kind of fixed dental restoration. Using materials fused to either side of an artificial tooth, it can replace one to four teeth all at once. It’s thus able to “bridge” sizable smile gaps left by tooth loss.
All in all, the best dental bridge candidates are those who’ve lost adjacent teeth. Their grins can often be restored with a single treatment, so they stand to benefit the most. That said, qualifying for the dental bridge process usually doesn’t take much. Most adults can undergo it if their gums and jaw are healthy.
Before you receive a dental bridge, Dr. Michitti will assess your smile at a consultation. He’ll then use his findings to draft a custom treatment plan for you. As part of that plan, he’ll likely suggest one of the following types of dental bridges:
Per its name, the traditional dental bridge is the standard kind that’s been used for several decades. It consists of dental crowns fused to the sides of a pontic (i.e., an artificial tooth). For that reason, it relies on your nearby natural teeth or “abutments” to stay in place.
Notably, the traditional dental bridge is the least costly of the two types. Its features make it less expensive than implant-based models, though it does remove some enamel during placement.
An implant bridge uses dental implants – small posts directly in your jaw. When these posts fuse with your jawbone, they secure and stabilize the final restoration. The resulting bridge shouldn’t fall or come loose like other replacement teeth can.
Since it doesn’t have dental crowns, an implant bridge won’t alter existing teeth. A dentist doesn’t have to prep “abutments” to place the device. However, getting this model does cost more than the standard option.
If you choose to get a dental bridge, you’ll notice many upsides. These are:
Having read the above, you see just what a dental bridge offers. Give some thought to this restoration and consult us about a potential treatment.