Dental Bridges: Can You Benefit from Them?

Dental bridges are tooth replacements that many people can benefit from. Whether or not you can get dental bridges depends on your condition. Cosmetic dentistry experts can tell you whether a dental bridge is an option for you. Some factors can make you ineligible for bridges and you can discuss this with your dentist. 

How Dental Bridges Work

Dental bridges are dental prosthetics utilized to replace missing teeth. They anchor to your healthy teeth to hold them in place, letting you bite and chew normally. Dental bridges can be made from different materials. Those made from metals are stronger than others; however, they do not match your natural teeth’s color and look. Often, these bridges are placed in the back portions of your mouth where your teeth are less visible. Also, some dental bridges are made of materials that mimic the color of your teeth. Porcelain bridges are often used to replace your front teeth. 

Dental bridges are available in various types. Traditional fixed bridges are the most common and are often placed nearly anywhere in your mouth. 

Who are Good Candidates for Dental Bridges?

Dental bridges are not for everyone. But they are appropriate for the following:

• People with missing teeth. Dental bridges can replace up to four missing teeth. But you need to be missing teeth in a row to get a bridge. If you lost teeth from various locations in your mouth, you may not benefit from a bridge or may have to get more than one bridge. 
• Those with good oral health. To benefit from a dental bridge, your oral health must be in good shape. Thus, you shouldn’t have any dental issues such as gum disease and tooth decay that must be addressed.
• Those who are generally healthy. You can also get a dental bridge if you have good overall health. Infections or serious underlying health conditions can impact your eligibility because they increase your risk of complications.
• Those who have strong, healthy abutment teeth. To get a bridge, the teeth on each side of your gap must be able to as abutments. If these teeth are not strong enough, the pressure of chewing can damage them, leading to a bridge failure. So, before the bridge procedure, the abutment teeth must be healthy, strong, and intact. 
• Those who take their oral hygiene seriously. When you get a dental bridge, you need to maintain good oral hygiene habits. You need to keep the abutment teeth healthy and strong to prevent the bridge from failing. Apart from daily tooth brushing and flossing, the surfaces that surround the bridge must be cleaned. 

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Earnest Dunaway

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