Dental Bridges in
Santa Maria, CA
Dental Bridges
Dental bridges, like dental crowns, are permanent prosthetic devices that are attached to existing teeth by our dentist. Dental bridges are typically used for those missing a single tooth or multiple teeth. Furthermore, dental bridges are also precision-crafted and placed onto nearby natural teeth or dental implants to fill the space created by lost or missing teeth.
Dental bridges can be used to enhance the look, and shape of your tooth, position, and general bite, commonly known as dental occlusion, in addition to restoring missing teeth. The gaps caused by missing teeth in your mouth might cause your existing teeth to move, ruining your bite patterns and causing other dental issues. Dental bridges and crowns can aid in the prevention of tooth movement and poor bite patterns. Dental bridges can be manufactured of metal alloys, gold, porcelain, or a mix of these materials. Natural teeth or dental implants can be used to support dental bridges. Dental Bridges can be used to:
- Restore your smile
- Restore your abilities to eat and speak correctly.
- Maintain your face’s structure.
- Replace missing teeth to appropriately distribute forces in your bite.
- Keep existing teeth from shifting out of place.
Dental bridges are classified into three types:
Traditional dental bridges consist of a crown on either side of a missing tooth or dental implant. The most prevalent dental bridges are built of porcelain fused over metal or ceramic material.
Cantilevered bridges, which are no longer often utilized, were used for patients who had neighboring teeth on just one side of a lost tooth or teeth. This type of dental bridge is not recommended for use at the rear of the mouth, where it can exert too much stress on neighboring teeth, causing extensive damage.
Maryland bonded bridges (also known as resin-bonded bridges or Maryland bridges) are comprised of porcelain, fused over metal or plastic teeth and gums held in place by a metal or porcelain framework.
Preparing your surrounding teeth for the dental bridge is part of the procedure. These neighboring teeth are referred to as abutment teeth. Tooth preparation is modifying these teeth by removing a little amount of enamel to allow for the placement of a crown without impairing your bite. The imprints of your teeth are then taken by our dentist. These imprints are used to create a 3D model from which the bridge, including pontic and crowns, may be manufactured in a dental lab. While the permanent bridge is being created, we will create a temporary bridge to cover your unprotected teeth.
A second appointment will be scheduled so that your temporary bridge can be removed and your permanent bridge can be tested and adjusted to ensure a correct fit and bite. Follow-up visits may be needed to fine-tune the fit of your new dental bridge. This changes according to the needs of each patient. We may cement it for a few weeks to guarantee a proper fit if you have a fixed conventional bridge. We will firmly cement the new dental bridge once we have achieved the appropriate fit.
With adequate care and oral hygiene, dental bridges can last from five to twenty years.