Removable Dental Bridges
What Are Removable Dental Bridges?
A dental bridge is a prosthetic tooth used to fill a gap left after a tooth has been lost or extracted from the jaw. A bridge only replaces the crown, which is the visible portion of the tooth above the gum line. Removable dental bridges are used to fill gaps between teeth caused by tooth loss. They can also straighten your bite and improve your smile.
The Difference Between Removable and Fixed Bridges
Unlike a fixed bridge, a removable dental bridge may bridge one or more spans of missing teeth in the same dental arch and does not require a tooth on each side of the missing teeth. The stability of removable dental bridges is dependent on the number and placement of the remaining teeth that are available to support the bridge. Removable dental bridges are made out of the same tooth material as fixed bridges which are fixed to the jawbone, while removable dental bridges attach to the existing teeth.
What Can You Expect From Removable Dental Bridges?
When you first get dental bridgework, you will be told how long to wear it. At first, you might have to wear your removable dental bridge all the time. This helps your dentist make any needed adjustments and identifies areas of discomfort. You might experience some discomfort at first but as your speech improves and you become more comfortable with wearing your removable dental bridgeworks, you will feel better about yourself.
The Benefits of Removable Dental Bridges
- Restore your smile: One of the most important benefits of removable dental bridges is the ability to restore your beautiful smile. You won’t have to go through the trouble of hiding your teeth in pictures because a bridge will allow you to smile without anyone noticing you are missing teeth.
- Speaking: Dental bridges can also restore your speech. Missing teeth can cause you to develop a lisp over time, which could eventually affect your self-confidence. With a dental bridge, you can maintain your speech without issue.
- Chewing: A gap in your teeth could make chewing difficult, as well as make it easier for food particles to get trapped in your teeth. When left untreated, this plaque and tartar buildup can lead to gum disease, including gingivitis and periodontal disease. Choosing to receive a temporary dental bridge now can help you avoid these problems in the future.
- Realistic: Regular dentures often move about in the mouth which can be uncomfortable to the patient but also noticeable to those around them. Dental bridges look and feel more like natural teeth, making them virtually undetectable.
The Life Expectancy of Dental Bridges
Dental bridges last for many years if you take care of them properly. A removable bridge is placed over the gaps where teeth are missing. The bridge may be made of gold, silver, surgical steel, porcelain, or other materials. It is attached by cementing it into place with special bonding material that is cured with a UV light. Bridges should be removed when they become loose or broken. When removing a bridge, the dentist makes sure that the tooth is still healthy enough to support the new bridge without damaging the surrounding tissue. Removing the bridge too soon could cause damage to the bone around the roots of the tooth.
Contact Us Today
Don’t let a missing tooth or gap in your smile ruin the self-confidence you deserve. Give us a call for our help. The mission of William G. Rice, DDS, is to improve the oral health of the patient population we serve by delivering the highest quality dental care and experience. Call us at (706) 543-4060 for more information and to set up a consultation.