Archive for the ‘Dental Bridges’ Category
Dental bridges for replacing missing teeth
What are the parts of a typical dental bridge (fixed)?
A dental bridge essentially consists of:
- A pontic or false tooth used to replace the missing tooth, which is made from gold, alloys, porcelain or a combination of these materials.
- Two crowns – serving to anchor the false tooth in place.
When are dental bridges needed?
Bridges are recommended when there are one or more teeth missing that affect:
- Your smile and appearance.
- Your bite, as a result of adjacent teeth leaning into the space and altering the way the upper and lower teeth bite together.
- Your speech.
- The shape of your face.
- The rates of gum disease and tooth decay as a result of food accumulated in the gap.
Must missing teeth be replaced?
Yes, missing teeth must be replaced for many reasons:
- To improve your appearance.
- To reduce the strain on the teeth at either side of the missing tooth.
- To prevent the neighboring teeth from leaning into the resulting gap and altering the bite.
- To prevent gum disease and tooth decay due to accumulation of food in the gap.
There are three main types of dental bridges:
1. Traditional fixed bridge
This is the most commonly used type of bridge and consists of a pontic fused between two porcelain crowns that are anchored on neighboring teeth or implants. The pontic is usually made of either porcelain fused to metal or ceramics. These are fixed and cannot be removed.
2. Resin-bonded bridges or Maryland-bonded bridges
These are chosen when the gap to be filled is in between the front teeth, or when the teeth on either side of the missing tooth are strong and healthy without large fillings. The false tooth is made of plastic and is fused to metal bands that are bonded to the adjacent teeth using resin that is hidden from view.
3. Cantilever bridges
These are opted for in areas such as the front teeth that are susceptible to lower stress. Cantilever bridges are used when there are teeth present on only one side of the space, where the false tooth is anchored to one or more adjacent teeth on one side.
What are bridges made of?
Bridges may be made of
- Porcelain.
- Porcelain bonded to precious metal.
- All-metal dental bridges (gold).
How are dental bridges fitted?
At the first appointment:
- The dentist will numb the area with a mild anaesthetic.
- The teeth on either side of the space are prepared by trimming away a small area in order to accommodate the new crown over them.
- The dentist then uses dental putty to make an impression of the teeth, which will be used to make the bridge and crown in the laboratory.
- A temporary bridge is fitted in to protect the exposed gums and teeth.
- A Vita shade guide may be used to determine the right shade for the dental bridge, by selecting a shade that resembles natural colour variations in your teeth, as well as suits your complexion, hair color, the color of your natural teeth and even your eye color.
At the second appointment:
- The temporary bridge is removed and the custom-made bridge is fitted, checked for its fit and bite, and adjusted accordingly. It is then cemented into place
- Multiple visits are often required to check and adjust the fit.
- In case of permanent or fixed bridges, the bridge is temporarily cemented for a couple of weeks and checked for its fit. It is permanently cemented only after several weeks.
How long will dental bridges last?
Dental bridges can last 10-15 years, provided that you maintain good dental hygiene and eating habits.
How to take care of your dental bridges?
Practice good dental hygiene:
- Clean the dental bridge every day to prevent tooth decay, bad breath and gum disease.
- Clean under the false tooth every day.
- Keep the remaining teeth healthy, as these serve as the foundation for the dental bridge.
Brushing and flossing:
- Brush twice and floss daily.
- To floss, use a bridge floss threader, which is a flexible piece of plastic with a loop at one end to thread the floss.
- Thread one end of a 14-to-18-inch piece of dental floss through the loop, making sure to leave one side about half as long as the other.
- Insert the end of the flosser without the hole between the bridge and the gumline.
- Hold onto the longer piece of floss, gently bring it up and pull the pointed end all the way through.
- Floss using both hands, moving the floss back and forth under the bridge.
- Floss the bridge completely from one end to the other.
Diet and eating habits:
- Eat soft foods or food cut into small pieces until you get accustomed to the dental bridge.
- Eat a balanced and nutritious diet for good general and dental health.
What are the advantages of dental bridges?
- They are natural in appearance.
- They generally require only two appointments with the dentist.
- They have a good life period, lasting for 10-15 years, providing you maintain good dental hygiene.
- They improve your appearance, bite issues and speech problems occurring as a result of missing teeth.
What are the disadvantages of dental bridges?
- Teeth become mildly sensitive to extreme temperatures for a few weeks.
- They require healthy tooth tissue from neighboring teeth to be prepared.
- Your teeth and gums are vulnerable to infection as a result of accumulation of bacteria due to the food acids (if proper hygiene is not maintained).
Dentures & Bridges : Who Should Get a Removable Partial Denture Prosthesis?
Removable partial denture prosthesis are designed as an affordable option for people who need dental implants or a dental bridge. Wear removal partial dentures for six months to a year before switching to a permanent option with advice from a licensed dental assistant in this free video on dentures.
Dentures & Bridges : How to Clean & Whiten Dentures
Note:
Please do not use regular toothpaste on cleaning your dentures. Because of the abrasives in the toothpaste it will damage your denture. Please buy specific toothpaste that is meant for dentures. Or simply brush with water? and soak your dentures in cleaning solution (meant for dentures!)
Dental Bridges
Bridge Treatment
A bridge is a device a dentist inserts to fill a gap where a tooth is missing. A “conventional” bridge consists of a false tooth (or teeth), known as a pontic, which is affixed to a crown on a tooth next to the gap. A “Maryland” bridge, on the other hand, is where the pontic is fixed to the teeth on either side using wings, meaning that it is not necessary to fit a crown to the other teeth.
Why do I need a Bridge?
Your dentist will recommend a bridge for cosmetic and clinical reasons. A missing tooth following an accident can obviously be unsightly and traumatic, and a bridge is an effective way to solve this problem. However, a dentist will also use a bridge in situations where it has been necessary to extract a tooth because of advanced decay. The clinical advantages of using a bridge are that it will reduce strain on the surrounding teeth, and prevent problems with the patient’s developing bite; surrounding teeth will often start to move into a gap, and food can become trapped, leading to increased decay and gum disease.
Alternatives to Bridges
There are two main alternatives to a dental bridge: dentures or dental implants. Dentures are not always the best solution if only one or two teeth need to be replaced because they can cause difficulties with eating and even speaking, so be sure to seek your dentist’s advice. Dental implants consist of a titanium “screw” which is inserted through the jaw, to which an artificial tooth is attached. Again, these are not always suitable- a patient must be medically fit, have healthy gums and a sufficiently thick jawbone to allow for this procedure. Implants are becoming more widely used, despite these reservations, and despite their high cost.
Consulting a dentist about a Bridge
Your dentist will usually recommend a bridge in situations where one or two teeth need to be replaced. Your teeth and gums must be healthy enough to support the bridge, so the dentist will evaluate this on the initial consultation. X-rays and other tests will be performed to ensure that the dentist can build a bridge that will be functional and cosmetically acceptable for a number of years.
What is involved in fitting a Bridge?
If using a standard bridge, the dentist will remove a small portion of the teeth around the gap to accommodate the thickness of the new crown (or pontic, as above). An impression of the patient’s bite will then be taken, and a device called a facebow may be used to ensure that the patient’s jaw movement is accurately recorded. This information is then used to design the bridge, ensuring that it is the best possible fit.
The bridge itself is a semi-flexible structure, which is then bonded to the teeth, and the dentist will ensure that the replacement tooth is correctly aligned. This will occur at a second appointment, allowing time for the bridge to be built. The dentist may fit a temporary bridge during the period between appointments.
Bridges toward the rear of the mouth will usually be made of a precious metal substructure with a porcelain tip that has been coloured to match the rest of the teeth. For gaps towards the front of the mouth, dentists will often use a bridge made entirely of porcelain. This is more visually attractive, but also more expensive.
After the Bridge is fitted
There should be no significant side effects after a bridge is fitted. They are easier to get used to than a denture, and with careful cleaning should last for many years.
Dentures & Bridges : How to Brush Dentures
Suggestions:
Never squeeze a partial or full lower as you will? Brake them unless they are the flexi ones when you clean them. As for soaking them half a hour in a sterile liquid or tab disolved in warm water is long enough as it attacks the acrylic. Just plain tap water in a denture bath or glass is fine for over night. If you have a chrome read the steri info as some turn the chrome black a quick dip will suffice. You can always contact a local technician for are polish and help in cleaning.
Never use toothpaste to clean a denture! Its is abrasive and takes the shine of the acrylic, I make dental prosthetics and know what toothpaste does to them after years in the job. You wont have a model to place your dentures on so you may find they pop? Out of your hands when they are wet. Fill the sink with water to act as a cussion if you drop them so they have less chance of being fractured, hold A edge in the forefinger and thumb. Rinse food stuff off and use a soft tooth brush.