What Is a Dental Bridge?
A bridge is a dental prosthetic that is often used by cosmetic dentists; the bridge is designed to fill a gap where at one time there was a tooth or teeth. A bridge is something like a denture inasmuch as it is colored to appear like real teeth and duplicating the appearance of the teeth they take the place of but unlike dentures, bridges are not designed to be removed from the mouth. The dentists in Melrose Park construct the bridge so that it is fixed to natural teeth which are on both sides of the existing gap.
A dental bridge provides the patient with a number of benefits. When there is a gap in one's teeth, the remaining teeth tend to migrate to towards the gap and in doing so the remaining natural teeth can twist and turn. The bridge can eliminate this movement, keeping the remaining teeth in their proper alignment as the bridge fills the gap which braces the teeth from moving. Bridges can also be beneficial for those that have either an overbite or under-bite as well as having cosmetic benefits, making the wearer appear to have all his or her teeth.
Attaching the dental bridge is a rather simple matter for dentists in Melrose Park. The teeth on either side of the gap are prepared to accept the future bridge; these teeth are ground down so that the bridge fits without intrusion. The teeth on either side are known as the abutment, they act as the support for the bridge. The teeth which have been ground down are fitted with a crown, the bridge, which has been made to replicate the shape and color of the missing teeth is then fused to the crowns on the abutment. A well maintained bridge can easily last ten or more years before it needs replacing.
There are times when a natural tooth is only available on one side of where the bridge is required; in cases like this the dentists in Melrose Park can design a cantilever bridge. The replacement teeth are supported by the tooth that is available, in many cases the dentist will elect to support the bridge from two teeth for leverage.
Another type of dental bridge that can be employed is resin bonded, this type of bridge is attached with metal bands rather than on crowned teeth and is used when the teeth on either side are healthy and sound, having no fillings or other work done on them. The bands are attached in such a way that they are not visible.
A dental bridge provides the patient with a number of benefits. When there is a gap in one's teeth, the remaining teeth tend to migrate to towards the gap and in doing so the remaining natural teeth can twist and turn. The bridge can eliminate this movement, keeping the remaining teeth in their proper alignment as the bridge fills the gap which braces the teeth from moving. Bridges can also be beneficial for those that have either an overbite or under-bite as well as having cosmetic benefits, making the wearer appear to have all his or her teeth.
Attaching the dental bridge is a rather simple matter for dentists in Melrose Park. The teeth on either side of the gap are prepared to accept the future bridge; these teeth are ground down so that the bridge fits without intrusion. The teeth on either side are known as the abutment, they act as the support for the bridge. The teeth which have been ground down are fitted with a crown, the bridge, which has been made to replicate the shape and color of the missing teeth is then fused to the crowns on the abutment. A well maintained bridge can easily last ten or more years before it needs replacing.
There are times when a natural tooth is only available on one side of where the bridge is required; in cases like this the dentists in Melrose Park can design a cantilever bridge. The replacement teeth are supported by the tooth that is available, in many cases the dentist will elect to support the bridge from two teeth for leverage.
Another type of dental bridge that can be employed is resin bonded, this type of bridge is attached with metal bands rather than on crowned teeth and is used when the teeth on either side are healthy and sound, having no fillings or other work done on them. The bands are attached in such a way that they are not visible.
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