The Benefits Of Opting For A Dental Bridge
If you have a single missing tooth in an obvious part of the mouth, then you may want to replace the tooth to enhance your dental aesthetics. There are a variety of options for tooth replacement that include dental implants. However, if surgery is not a viable option for you, then a bridge may be your best choice for a strong and natural looking tooth. Bridges can even last over 10 years in some cases. If you are currently weighing the pros and cons of a porcelain fixed bridge, then there are likely some benefits that you are not familiar with.
It Protects The Crown Teeth
If you have spoken to your dentist about a dental fixed bridge, then you may know that the device requires the careful grinding of the two anchor teeth. These teeth are the ones that sit on the right and left side of the missing tooth. Anchor teeth are fitted with crowns and the full tooth, or pontic, sits between them. The crowns are similar to the ones that are created for extremely damaged teeth, and this means that about one to one and a half millimeters of enamel must be removed before the crowns can be secured.
Tooth grinding and enamel removal will essentially destroy the anchor teeth. The teeth can never return to a normal state without the protection of the tooth crowns. In other words, if the bridge is replaced with a dental implant later on, the anchor teeth will still require dental crowns to function properly.
For many people, tooth grinding is a negative consequence of the bridge adhesion process. For some individuals though, the crowns actually make the teeth stronger. If the anchor teeth contain large cavities, cracks, or chips, then the crowns will enhance the strength of the teeth and reduce the risks of further deterioration.
If damaged teeth will serve as the bridge anchors, then speak with your dentist about performing root canals on the teeth before the bridge is cemented. If a silent and unnoticed infection begins before the bridge is added, then a root canal will be needed once the infection is discovered. This bridge will be destroyed in the process and a new one will be needed.
It Can Stimulate Bone Growth
If you have significant bone loss around the missing tooth, then this is a common occurrence. You will not use the open space for chewing, or the adjacent teeth, and this can cause the bone in the jaw to wear away over time. The jaw bone normally remains strong as the dental roots stimulate the bone through pressure and stress.
One of the many advantages of receiving a dental implant is the fact that new bone growth is stimulated after the root device is surgically implanted. This can help to secure the implant strongly and keep the nearby teeth from deteriorating.
While a bridge will not stimulate jaw growth in the area where your tooth was lost, it will help with the creation of bone around the crown teeth. The anchor teeth will retain a lot of the bite pressure in the region. The stress is transferred to the bone underneath the tooth roots, and new bone will start to form. If your dentist has informed you that bone loss is an issue, then this can help with the rebuilding process.
If you are not careful though, then bone loss may develop again. This can happen if you allow the gums to become infected around the bridge. Infections allow bacteria to gather just underneath the gum tissues. The acids produced by the bacteria then eat away at the bone. Thankfully, this type of situation can be prevented with proper cleaning around the bridge. Use tools like interdental flossers, water flossers, and tufted brushes. Pay close attention to the space underneath the pontic tooth where food is most likely to gather.
Share