Did you know that the issue of missing teeth has baffled people for a really long time? According to the Dental Geek website, the first case of a synthetic replacement for missing teeth dates back 4000 years in China, where carved bamboo pegs were used to replace missing teeth! A few thousand years later, an Egyptian king had a copper peg hammered into his upper jaw bone. Thankfully, today general dentistry has advanced to a new level and there are multiple options for replacing missing teeth. Some of them are dental implants, dental crowns, bridges, and dentures.
What is a Dental Bridge?
According to the Canadian Dental Association, a bridge is a dental restoration that replaces one or more missing teeth. It extends across an area that has no teeth and is typically made up of an artificial tooth fused between 2 crowns. A crown is like a cover for your natural tooth, it is hollow and fits your natural tooth perfectly. So, unlike the treatment of dental implants, a dental bridge near you requires the support of the adjacent teeth on either side of your missing tooth or implant.
Dental bridges are a permanent fixture. If maintained well, they can last for up to five to fifteen years.
Types of Dental Bridges
If you have decided to go for dental bridges, then you ought to know that there are typically three types of dental bridges that our dentist may recommend Let’s take a look at each one of them:
Traditional Dental Bridges
These are the most commonly used dental bridges. They involve the use of the crown for the tooth or implant on either side of the missing tooth, with a pontic in between. Traditional bridges are made with either porcelain fused to metal or ceramic.
Implant-Supported Bridges
Implant-supported bridges are used when you have more than one tooth missing. So instead of crowns or frameworks, the bridges are supported on implants. As the bridges are secured by implants, they feel secure and comfortable just like natural teeth.
Cantilever Bridges
Bridges require the support of adjacent teeth on both sides of the missing tooth. But if any one of the adjacent teeth are missing, then cantilever bridges are the best option for you. Mostly, cantilever bridges are used in the back of the mouth.
The Process of Getting a Dental Bridge
The process of getting dental bridges involves at least 3-4 visits to the doctor. During the first visit, your teeth are recontoured by removing a portion of the enamel to allow room for a crown to be placed. After this, our dentist in North Edmonton will take impressions of your teeth. This model will then be sent to the lab where your bridge, pontic, and crowns will be made. In the meanwhile, our dentist will place a temporary bridge on your teeth to protect it till the permanent bridge is made. In the second visit, our dentist will remove your temporary bridge and replace it with the permanent one. It will then take a couple more visits to check the metal framework and the bite.
There are many clinics in Edmonton offering general dentistry where you can get your dental bridges. Reach out to our experts at Beverly Heights Dental to book a consultation.
