Types of Dental Bridges
There are four main types of dental bridges: traditional, cantilever, Maryland, and implant-supported. Each style of dental bridge has its benefits depending on your dental needs. Your dentist will consider your oral health, age, size of the gap created by your missing teeth, condition of neighboring teeth, and your personal preferences to decide on the correct dental bridge for you. Compared to a dental implant designed to replace a single missing tooth, a dental bridge in Green River, WY is ideal for a missing row of teeth.
Traditional Bridge
A traditional dental bridge uses a set of crowns to anchor a row of artificial teeth, known as pontics, to the mouth. This type of bridge can be used when you have healthy teeth neighboring an empty space. A crown will be placed on these adjacent natural teeth to support the bridge between them.
Cantilever Bridge
A cantilever bridge uses the same techniques as a traditional bridge but only attaches to a single natural tooth. A crown is still placed on this natural tooth to provide stability, but the artificial tooth extends across the gap without support on the other side. This type of bridge is used when you only have a healthy natural tooth on one side of a space of missing teeth. This makes cantilever bridges less stable than traditional bridges.
Maryland Bridge
In cases where you don’t want to place crowns on your natural teeth, Maryland bridges are an alternative option. Similar to a traditional bridge where the neighboring teeth are used as supports for the dental bridge between them, a Maryland bridge uses metal wings that attach to the back of the natural teeth rather than through a crown. This type of bridge is only used at the front of the mouth as it is not as structurally sound and can’t withstand the biting forces at the back of the mouth.
Implant-Supported
Implant-supported bridges use dental implants as anchors rather than natural teeth. For an implant-supported bridge to be used, you must have a gap of at least three missing teeth. Dental implants will be surgically installed in the furthest spaces in the gap with the bridge between them. This procedure requires additional healing time, as you must first wait for the dental implants to fuse to the jawbone before the permanent bridge can be attached.
Please contact us if you have any questions about the different bridge options available and how we can help you bridge the gap to your ideal smile.
The Process of Getting a Dental Bridge in Green River, WY
Your dental bridge procedure in Green River, WY will follow different steps based on the type of bridge you get. Generally, you will begin with an initial assessment to discuss your goals, take imaging, and perform an oral exam to determine the bridge option that will give you the best results.
At your next appointment, your dentist will prep your teeth for the dental bridge. This might include removing a small amount of enamel for the placement of the crowns if you are getting a traditional or cantilever bridge or surgically placing the screws for your dental implants if you are getting an implant-supported bridge. A temporary bridge will be used while you wait for your permanent bridge to be made in an outside dental lab.
In general, a dental bridge takes about two to four weeks to be created and shipped to your dentist. Once your permanent bridge arrives, your dentist will check that it fits comfortably and aligns correctly before securing it in place. If you are getting an implant-supported bridge, healing typically takes three to six months before you can have your permanent bridge placed. This gives your jawbone ample time to fully fuse with the dental implant. Make sure to follow any care instructions provided by your dentist to ensure your dental bridge heals properly so it lasts for many years to come.
A dental bridge can eliminate the self-conscious feeling from having a missing tooth, and improve the function and appearance of your smile. Dr. Birch is skilled in providing our patients with natural-looking and durable dental bridges in Green River, Wyoming. So, we invite you to call us at 307-875-3658 to learn how this service can restore your smile comfortably. Our dentist and team look forward to improving your oral health at Birch Family Dental.
If you are missing a single tooth or multiple teeth in a row, we may recommend a dental bridge to restore your smile. A bridge is a fixed dental restoration, meaning it is nonremovable. The dental bridge is anchored in place through the use of two dental crowns, which are custom made to fit your smile and are placed on the teeth or dental implants next to the space left by the missing tooth. These crowns hold the artificial tooth in place to restore your smile, ensuring that your restoration will not easily shift or come loose. It typically requires only two visits to our practice to complete a dental bridge. Dental bridges are designed to last for many years and to restore the function, beauty and health of your smile.
Our dentist may recommend a dental bridge to improve your smile by:
- Restoring your ability to speak, eat and chew normally
- Alleviating excess stress on the bite
- Improving the shape and volume of your face
- Replacing an unwanted removable partial denture
- Preventing the remaining natural teeth from moving out of position
- Enhancing the appearance of your smile
We will help you determine whether a custom dental bridge is the right choice for restoring your smile after tooth loss. For more information, please call or visit us today.
