Unlock the secrets behind how dental bridges play a crucial role in restoring your smile’s functionality and aesthetics.
Just as a bridge connects you from one side of a city to the next, a dental bridge can bridge the gap between your confidence and a healthy-looking smile. Damaged or missing teeth can cause you to lose the functionality of your mouth and leave you wanting to cover up your mouth. Your dentist desires you to have a natural-looking, healthy oral cavity and can provide options to correct oral health issues.
Dental bridges in SW Calgary are a solution for replacing missing teeth and can enhance your appearance while boosting your self-confidence. If you are looking for a permanent restoration treatment, a dental bridge is the answer.
SW Calgary Dental Bridges – Why They Are Needed
Did you know that dental bridges can be used for a lot more than just missing teeth? You can get bridges to:
- Replace a tooth with substantial decay
- Connect to a tooth that had a root canal
- Anchor to an implant
- Restore the aesthetics from cracked or fractured teeth
A dental bridge gives you back the full functionality of eating and speaking normally while providing the comfort of a full set of teeth. Gaps in your mouth can lead to other issues including a shifting of your other teeth. These spaces may also make you more prone to gum diseases like gingivitis and periodontitis.
The Dental Bridge Process
Step 1: A complete consultation with your dental professional to determine the type of bridge that will best suit your situation.
Step 2: Your teeth will be prepared so that your bridge will fit comfortably in your mouth. You will likely have a crown placed on either side of the gap so the bridge can be attached to these. The dentist may suggest implants if crowns are not an option. An implant is an artificial root surgically implanted into your jawbone, used when there is not enough natural bone and teeth to provide support to crowns.
Step 3: A temporary bridge made from porcelain, ceramic, or metal is placed on your teeth until the permanent bridge is created. Your permanent bridge will be made to match the shape and colour of your natural teeth. This can take up to three weeks to complete.
Step 4: Your permanent bridge is cemented into position during a follow-up appointment with your dentist.
Step 5: Your dentist will check that everything looks good, fits, and functions as it should.
A bridge can last up to ten years if properly taken care of.
How Do You Take Care of Dental Bridges in SW Calgary?
Besides brushing and flossing your teeth regularly and visiting the dentist for check-ups, it is recommended you:
- Floss with a water flosser to remove plaque, tartar, and food debris from difficult-to-get-to areas around your bridge
- Rinse with a fluoridated mouthwash to kill bacteria and keep your breath fresh
- Have a healthy diet filled with a balance of vegetables, fruit, and fibre to help clean out your mouth and keep your body healthy
Types of Dental Bridges
There are three key types of dental bridges, each with their unique benefits. Your dentist will suggest the one that is right for your situation.
1. Traditional Fixed Bridge – Two crowns are placed on either side of your missing teeth. These crowns will support the bridge with artificial teeth. This is the most common type of dental bridge and can be used in a variety of locations within your mouth. These bridges are usually bonded to the adjacent teeth, however, some bridges are removable.
2. Cantilever Bridge – Anchored to a single crown, this type of bridge is bonded to the adjacent tooth when you are only missing one or have a single damaged tooth. This may be an option when you only have one healthy tooth available.
3. Maryland Bonded or Resin-Bonded Bridge – Do you have missing front teeth? You will likely need this kind of bridge for support. It has a winged extension that bonds to teeth on either side of the gaps. The winged part is made of metal. This type of bridge is permanently bonded with resin and can last for years.
Show Off Your Smile
Dental bridges in SW Calgary are a long-term solution for a gap-toothed smile or damaged teeth. Your dentist will evaluate your situation and recommend the option that works for you. A bridge is a customized solution to your dental concerns and will look and feel like natural teeth. At Glenbrook Dental, we are always here for replacements and adjustments when required. A complete smile is just a dental bridge treatment away.