Understanding What Dental Bridges Are and How They Function?
Have you recently lost a tooth because of injury, natural causes, or medical condition? You may think about the options to restore your smile because the missing tooth would have created an unsightly gap. You may think it is just an aesthetic issue and doesn’t need attention. However, you begin thinking differently when you start experiencing pain when chewing, discomfort in your jaw, or other problems caused by a change in your bite.
An excellent solution to overcome these problems is to have a teeth bridge to replace the missing teeth. If you have never heard about dental bridges, it will help you to understand the process and what to expect when getting dental bridges.
What Are Dental Bridges?
Dental bridges are appropriate solutions to replace a lost tooth that has left a gap between your teeth to cause your other teeth to loosen. A dental bridge fills the blank space created by the missing tooth to give you a natural appearance and restoring the tooth.
Four types of dental bridges are available, and the dentist in Worcester, MA, determines a solution best suited for your situation. A traditional fixed bridge is the most common, comprising one or more fake teeth held in place by dental crowns cemented to the neighboring teeth.
If you need to close the gap in your mouth but have just one supporting tooth beside the vacant space dental bridges in Worcester, MA, recommend cantilever bridges, which require support from only one dental crown. You can consider Maryland bridges as a Conservative method of replacing missing teeth, especially if you want to close a gap in the anterior region of your mouth.
If you have more than one tooth missing, Tatnuck Family Dental Care recommends fixed implant bridges held in place by dental implants. The implants are secured into your jawbone for optimal stability. Most dentists generally recommend placing one implant for every missing tooth.
Placing Dental Bridges
Dental bridge placement does not require any surgery, ensuring that you are awake during the process. However, if you are anxious or nervous about the procedure, you can discuss your problem with your dentist, who provides anesthesia or mild sedation to comfort you. Some anesthesia is also injected into your gums to numb the area of the mouth.
The initial step of placing a dental bridge begins by taking imprints and measurements of your mouth. This process ensures your customized dental bridge fits correctly and will feel comfortable. A soft piece of foam is provided for you to bite on for the impression. Your supporting teeth are ground down to make sufficient space for the abutment teeth on which the dental crowns are placed. Your dentist provides temporary crowns to protect your compromised teeth until the dental laboratory returns your customized bridges.
You must schedule another appointment with your dentist for placement of the permanent bridges. During this appointment, the dentist will verify that the permanent orders are suitable for your mouth before removing the temporary bridges and cementing the permanent placements for you.
Is the Pain Level Intensive When Getting Dental Bridges?
You are unlikely to experience extreme pain during the procedure as your mouth is numbed by local anesthesia. However, you must sit with your mouth open for several hours, leaving you with discomfort and soreness in the jaw. Your dentist recommends over-the-counter painkillers to manage the discomfort and ice packs on your cheeks if you need them.
Recovering from Dental Bridge Placement
Recovering from dental bridge placement is quick, and often there is no downtime involved. You can begin eating normally as you do soon after the bridge placement procedure is over. You are unlikely to confront challenges adapting to the bridge placement. However, if you experience any discomfort, you can contact your dentist in Worcester, MA, who will quickly fix the problem by making some adjustments.
The days when you had to move around embarrassed because you had lost a tooth or two have long gone past. Presently you can have dental bridges placed in your mouth in just a couple of visits to the dentist’s office discussed in this article. Besides restoring your missing tooth with an artificial replacement, dental bridges also restore the tooth’s functionality allowing you to lead an everyday life as you did with your natural teeth.
You must care for the dental bridges appropriately by following excellent dental hygiene practices, including visiting your dentist for six-monthly exams and cleanings. Using additional flossing tools specially designed for dental bridges is recommended by dentists to prevent plaque buildup beneath the artificial teeth. Follow the recommendations diligently if you want to have the dental bridges for their intended duration without needing replacements.
