While dental bridges in Red Deer are not your only option for replacing missing teeth, they are an affordable alternative to dental implants and one that can restore a damaged smile and dental function while protecting your future health. There are several different types of bridges, each with advantages and disadvantages. Which types of crowns are appropriate for your circumstances is an issue you should discuss with a dentist in Red Deer who is familiar with your oral health and goals.
Traditional dental bridges
Traditional dental bridges support artificial teeth called “pontics” in a structure that is mounted on natural teeth at each end. The bridges are mounted on those natural teeth on each side of the gap in your jaw using dental crowns. The natural teeth that provide the supports for the bridge must be modified by the removal of a small amount of enamel to hold the crowns. That need to remove material from otherwise healthy teeth is one of the downsides of the traditional bridge.
Cantilever bridges
Cantilever bridges are a subset of the traditional bridges described above. Where the traditional bridges referred to above are attached to two crowns — one on each side of the gap — a cantilever bridge relies on just a single crown one one side of the gap. They are, as a result, less stable than a traditional bridge mounted on two crowns and much less stable than implant-supported bridges described below.
Implant-supported bridges
On the other hand, an implant-supported bridge does not rely on natural teeth on either side of a gap left behind by missing teeth. Instead, the bridge is supported by implants placed directly into your jaw. Implant-supported bridges offer the advantage of stability due to their placement in the jaw and the preservation of jaw bone mass that can deteriorate in the absence of tooth roots. On the other hand, implants are much more expensive than non-implant-supported options and involve much more invasive procedures.
Resin-bonded bridges
Resin-bonded bridges are secured in an entirely different way than either traditional or implant-supported bridges. They’re maintained in position by being bonded to neighbouring teeth using specialized dental resin materials cured to be as strong and durable as possible.
What are the benefits of dental bridges?
Dental bridges offer three primary benefits. Obtaining dental bridges near you improves the appearance of your smile by filling the gaps left behind by missing teeth. Missing teeth cause significant consequences when it comes to oral health and dental function, but have ramifications far beyond those. Many people shrink from intimate and social situations due to their missing teeth and miss opportunities to participate fully in their personal and professional lives. Restoring missing teeth with dental bridges can significantly improve your self-esteem and confidence to participate in life fully.
Living with missing teeth also means losses when it comes to the ability to bite, chew and eat and even the ability to speak clearly and persuasively. Replacing those missing teeth with pontics supported by a crown can restore most (if not all) dental function and the ability to speak confidently.
Finally, dental bridges that hold artificial teeth in place will prevent neighbouring natural teeth from twisting and shifting into gaps left behind by missing teeth (especially if the pontics are supported by crowns that further help to keep your remaining natural teeth in place). This result of receiving dental bridges is important because it can reduce the risk of distortions to your bite and the alignment of your teeth.
If you have questions about what type of bridge might best achieve your goals and restore your dental function, ask a dentist near you to describe your options and their respective advantages and disadvantages.