How Sturdy Is Your Dental Bridge?


How Sturdy Is Your Dental Bridge?

By Wright Smiles

Long before most of modern dentistry’s tooth restoration techniques became popular, dental bridges were already a common method of replacing one or more lost teeth. Even today, if you’ve lost a tooth, or a few teeth in a row, then you may have replaced the lost teeth with a conventional dental bridge. Aptly named, a dental bridge closes the gap left in your smile by missing teeth, restoring your mouth’s ability to function. To perform its job properly, a dental bridge should be as sturdy as your healthy, natural teeth, which might best be accomplished by securing the bridge to one or more dental implants

The Effects of Lost Teeth

A typical, healthy adult mouth will grow a total of 32 permanent teeth, including the four wisdom teeth that develop last. In many cases, the last four molars are extracted to prevent or treat crowding problems, but the remaining 28 can’t be lost so nonchalantly. Each of your teeth relies on those around it for structural support to sustain your bite’s pressure. When you lose one, those around it can shift towards the empty space to try and take up the slack. Migrating teeth can mean more complex dental problems if the missing tooth isn’t replaced as soon as possible.

Benefits and Limitations of Bridges

A dental bridge consists of three main parts: the replacement tooth, or pontic, and two dental crowns that are attached to the teeth bordering the gap in your smile. Known as abutments, the supportive teeth that hold the crowns are the secret to a dental bridge’s stability. The dental prosthetic can restore your ability to bite and chew correctly without over-stressing your other teeth, and can restore your confidence by rebuilding your beautiful smile. However, the modifications to the abutment teeth can leave them weak, and if they crack, break, or become infected by decay, they’ll need to be treated and your dental bridge replaced.

Make Your Dental Bridge More Stable

Though your teeth help stabilize each other, they don’t rely on each other for their main source of support. The roots of your teeth, which extend under your gums and into your jawbone, are what keep them strong and sturdy enough to fulfill their duties. To replicate this stability, Dr. Wright and Dr. Heron often recommend replacing lost teeth with dental implant-supported bridges, or other appropriate prostheses. Dental implants are surgically inserted into your jawbone, and the bond between implant and bone mimics that between your jawbone and your teeth’s roots, creating unmatched support for your new smile.

ABOUT YOUR SOUTHLAKE DENTISTS:

As a native Texan, Gregory Wright, DDS, opened his private practice in Southlake, TX in 1992. He and Dr. Victoria Heron are happily accepting new patients from Southlake, Grapevine, Keller, Trophy Club, Colleyville, and all surrounding communities. To learn more, call our office today at (817) 481-7999.