Hello, I'm Dr. Bailey and I'm here to answer your questions about common bridge work.
What is a dental bridge?
A dental bridge is something that is placed in your mouth and it's cemented in so that it doesn't come in or out. It's not removable and it's using your existing teeth to anchor it. A bridge is fixed, whereas dentures are removable.
What are the pros and cons of a dental bridge?
The pros of a dental bridge are that you're using your existing teeth to fill in where you're missing some teeth, and it's not removable. A con for the dental bridge is whether or not the teeth on either side that you're using to anchor the bridge are virgin teeth or have large silver fillings or large fillings in those teeth. If you have virgin teeth and you're only missing one tooth, I might suggest getting an implant instead of doing fixed bridge work because we don't want to adjust adjacent teeth.
What is a removable dental bridge versus a fixed dental bridge?
The alternative to a dental bridge is a removable partial, and that will come in and out. It still uses the adjacent teeth, but it is removable.
What is a cantilever dental bridge?
A cantilever dental bridge is if just one tooth needs a crown, and you can possibly just add the one area that's a missing tooth. You can add it to that crown and replace both teeth. Usually, you replace three teeth.
What are the benefits of dental bridges?
The benefits of dental bridges are better chewing and eating your food, and holding teeth in place so that they don't migrate and move the caddywampus.
How can a dental bridge help those with gum disease?
A dental bridge can help those with gum disease by strengthening the gums. If you can splint some teeth together, sometimes it's much stronger in the long run. Bridge work is not painful; you get numbed up like you do for fillings or a single crown, and you get a temporary placed, and that's that.
What does a dental bridge placement procedure involve?
The dental bridge placement procedure involves shaping the two teeth on either side of the missing space and placing a temporary bridge over the top, which adds your temporary tooth along with getting your impression for that bridge. It's sent off to the lab, and they are made, and then you come back and we cement it in.
How long does a dental bridge last?
A dental bridge usually lasts 20 to 30 years.
How should I care for my dental bridge?
Caring for your dental bridge means you have to come in every three to six months for a dental cleaning and keep that routine probably for the rest of your life.
When should I schedule an appointment for a dental bridge?
You can schedule an appointment for a dental bridge at any time or during your regular cleaning if that's what you need, and then we can go from there.
I hope I've been able to answer some of your questions about bridges, and if you would like to get a consultation, call Bailey Dental Group at (586) 800-2250 and schedule a consultation.