5 Tips to Help You Take Advantage of Dental Bridges

Dr. Freddy Mezquia encounters many patients still on edge about trying out dental bridges to replace their missing teeth. The initial problem you have to deal with once you lose your teeth is the idea that permanent teeth do not grow back. When you fully accept this fact, you are at a better place to accept restorative dental care near you for replacing lost teeth.

What Are Dental Bridges?

They are oral devices featuring dental crowns and an artificial tooth used for replacing lost teeth in restorative dentistry. Dental bridges often work as alternatives to dentures, particularly to replace fewer missing teeth. A typical dental bridge consists of two dental crowns and a replacement tooth. The artificial tooth will be sandwiched between the dental crowns, which go over adjacent teeth. It implies that to get dental bridges, you need to have the rest of your natural teeth intact, as they will be the anchors for the artificial replacement teeth.

Do You Need a Dental Bridge?

Dental bridges near you are not meant for every patient. For one, you must be missing at least one tooth for you to even approach a dentist near you regarding dental bridges. Aside from that. Dental bridges are suited for patients with:

1. One missing tooth
2. At most three missing teeth in a row
3. Patients with multiple missing teeth but are willing to get dental implants

Best Things About Dental Bridges

If you feel ready to have your missing teeth replaced by one of our dentists in Ocoee, consider the following aspects about dental bridges that make them worthwhile:

1. They are perfect for single tooth replacement – you do not need to have more of your natural teeth removed to qualify for other tooth replacement alternatives like dentures. Instead, a dental bridge can get the job done.
2. They are aesthetically pleasing – materials used to create dental bridges are tooth-colored, making them easy to match to the color of natural human teeth. As such, you will not have to explain to everyone why one of your teeth looks very different from the rest.
3. No surgery is involved – if you know anything about getting dental implants to replace your teeth, you know that surgery is part of the treatment. With dental bridges, it is not the case. The dentist will only have to prepare your adjacent teeth to create room for the crowns of the dental bridge.
4. They are durable – dental bridges will not stop working after a few months. With proper care, your dental bridges can last a long time, with most going for over 15 years.
5. Restore optimal oral functionality – a dental bridge allows you to chew and speak properly, as was the case before you lost your teeth.

How to Get the Best Out of Your Dental Bridges

There are very few cases of bridgework failure in dentistry, but they still exist. To ensure you are not among the patients that suffer bridge failures soon after their treatment, here are five useful tips:

1. Keep your mouth clean – dental bridges can easily be ruined by poor oral hygiene, where plaque and bacteria begin to build up at the base of the bridgework. Besides, gingival health is paramount for successful bridgework procedures.
2. Get an expert to replace your lost tooth – find a dentist experienced in dental bridgework to replace your tooth. It will ensure that you do not have to deal with a loose dental bridge caused by improper cementation and poor preparation of your teeth.
3. Choose the color of your dental bridge beforehand – before any numbing or other dental works begin, pick the exact color of the dental bridge you want, which will match the color of your natural teeth.
4. Report any abnormalities with your dental bridge to your dentist – the earlier they are fixed, the better success you will have with your bridgework.
5. Have regular dental cleanings – to boost your oral hygiene and get rid of plaque and food residues from hard-to-reach areas in your mouth. The routine cleanings are also a good time to have your dentist observe the state of your bridgework and detect oral issues if any.