Filling gaps and keeping your smile healthy for a lifetime with dental bridges
Bridges can be performed at the dentist’s office. Like the architectural bridge that spans a body of water or another barrier, the dental bridge may be applied to fill in and close the gap or space where a tooth used to be. In fact, it may be recommended to replace a single tooth or a few teeth as an alternative to prostheses like partial dentures. Our patients at Simply Wellness Dental in East Vancouver, British Columbia, also have more options for bridges than ever before.
Benefit from dental bridges
The most common type of bridge is made up of a “pontic” (replacement tooth) and at least two “abutments” (or anchor teeth). The abutment teeth reside on either side of the gap. That gap may be small (a single tooth) or large (to replace more than one tooth). Whatever the case, the abutments designed to support a single pontic or many pontics are natural teeth that have been crowned. Why do we need to crown these teeth? The pontic is fused to the crowns and bonded to the abutment teeth as a single piece. That way, the new tooth and crowns are held securely in place, allowing for utmost strength and durability.
With proper care, bridges can last a long time. Our dentists, Drs Adi Nokiani, Ashleigh Sran, and Eric Quan, can discuss ways to clean underneath the bridge properly. We can advise on special floss threaders or soft picks to remove food particles, plaque, and bacteria from this hard-to-reach space.
You can also benefit from bridges even if you’ve gone without teeth for some time and your jaw has sustained the effects of bone loss—the skills of Drs. Nokiani, Sran, and Quan are further complemented by the expertise of Dr. Jason Park. Dr. Park focuses his practice on implants and oral surgery. He is equipped to place dental implants in the jaw. The bone in the jaw naturally joins or fuses to the implants. The bridge is then attached to these implants. So, your new teeth are not going anywhere! Plus, implant-supported bridges also stop further or future bone loss and prevent bone loss from occurring in the first place. The jawbone continues to get stimulation from the dental bridge and functions like biting and chewing food. So it stays dense and strong.
The process of bone loss starts as soon as a tooth is lost and can progress rapidly. It is essential to replace teeth promptly. Call Simply Wellness Dental in East Vancouver, BC, at (604) 229-5922 to discuss your options for treatment today.
A bridge is a non-surgical way to replace one or many teeth. A bridge uses the adjacent teeth as anchors to support the missing tooth or teeth. With today’s dental advancements, a bridge can be fabricated in a fairly short period of time, using a metal or nonmetal foundation. Don’t let that missing tooth affect the way you speak, eat, and smile. Bridges yield immediate results that last a lifetime. Ask your dentist what type of bridge may be right for you.