Dental bridges: Transforming more than your smile with trusted tooth replacement solutions
At Orion Dental Specialties, we shine a light on preventative approaches. Our team, led by Drs Melanie and Farnam Farzam, partners with patients from across the Cypress, Texas, area to support the habits and behaviors that prevent dental damage and tooth loss. We also get ahead of potential problems with tooth loss. We can prevent further complications by promptly discussing the many options to replace missing teeth, such as dental bridges. By replacing teeth sooner rather than later, you avoid:
- Bite imbalances that alter how you chew food and otherwise function
- Other teeth from shifting out of place and toward the gaps in your smile
- The need for orthodontic treatment due to crooked teeth
- TMJ symptoms – from headaches to jaw pain and stiffness
- Destructive loss of bone in the jaw
- Problems with properly cleaning teeth due to uneven spacing
- Threats to existing teeth and gums from decay and periodontal disease
Fortunately, bridges present a permanent (non-removable) way to replace teeth. So, they look and feel natural and function as nature intended.
Truly bridging the gap.
To understand dental bridges is to first understand dental crowns, and you cannot have a bridge without crowns! The dental crown replaces the white part of the tooth that you see above the gum line. They’re generally ceramics, metal alloys, or even a combination of both materials. They are prepared to fit on top of the natural, damaged tooth, which has also been prepared (cleaned and reshaped). Once secure, crowns hold together and strengthen teeth that may be damaged due to decay, fractures, or other trauma.
Bridges are a bit more complex. They’re a great choice if you are missing at least one tooth, and they may be an attractive alternative to more expensive dental implants. With this alternative, the implant is designed and placed to function as an artificial tooth root. Made from biocompatible metal titanium, once placed in the jawbone, the implant safely fuses to the surrounding bone. So, your prosthetic teeth may be attached to and stabilized by the implants – like natural roots!
Bridges may also be an appropriate alternative for those patients who have already experienced bone loss and don’t want to (or aren’t great candidates for) undergo grafting procedures to build up the bone before implant placement. Additional procedures add to the cost of implant-supported teeth and the time required for treatment and healing.
The bridge name is apt because, at its most basic, the lab-made tooth or pontic is attached to adjacent abutment teeth – effectively bridging the gap between the teeth. The abutments must be crowned to provide the strength required to support the pontic. Every crown also requires a slight reduction of natural tooth structure. This step assures your crowns fit correctly. Depending on where your gap is located, the bridge may not be an option because you need existing teeth on either side of the gaps to serve as anchors for your new teeth. In these cases, Drs Melanie or Farnam may discuss additional options to rebuild your smile. We also work with our valued patients to ensure their new teeth – bridges, dentures, or implants – continue to function, look, and feel “as designed.”
Transform your smile and so much more. Contact Orion Dental Specialties today to take the first step toward a healthier, happier “you.” Our team in Cypress, TX, can be reached at (832) 906-8313.
Dental Bridges
A bridge is a non-surgical way to replace one or many teeth. A bridge uses the adjacent teeth as anchors to support the missing tooth or teeth. With today’s dental advancements, a bridge can be fabricated in a fairly short period of time, using a metal or nonmetal foundation. Don’t let that missing tooth affect the way you speak, eat, and smile. Bridges yield immediate results that last a lifetime. Ask your dentist what type of bridge may be right for you.