| Dental Bridge
or
Pontic or Fixed Bridge is a custom-made fake tooth or false
teeth, that is permanently placed between your natural healthy teeth or
dental implants. Usually two
tooth crowns (tooth caps, "caps") are
holding it in place that are cemented onto your teeth on each side of
the false teeth. These two anchoring teeth are called abutment teeth. |
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| Fixed bridges or
pontics cannot be taken out of your mouth compare with
removable partial dentures.
The teeth to be crowned (abutment teeth) are prepared in a very specific
way
(filing
down the
tooth
to make room for crowns and
bridge) by a dentist. Records are given to a dental technician to
fabricate the dental bridge, which can then be inserted at another
dental appointment.
The main advantages of the
indirect method of teeth restoration:
- you do not need to be in
the dental chair
- use of materials that
require intense heat to be processed with superior mechanical
properties, such as gold and natural looking porcelain
- produce a restoration of
much higher quality
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Indication to Restore with a
Dental Bridge
- Re-establish your smile
- Bring back your ability to
properly chew
- Help improve speech
- Preserve the shape of your
face
- Distribute the forces in
your bite properly by replacing missing teeth
- Limit remaining teeth from
drifting out of position
- Correct some bite problems
- Reduce the risk of
gum disease
Types of Dental Bridges
- Traditional bridges
(the most common types) contain a crown for the tooth or implant on
either side of the missing tooth, with a pontic in between and are
made of either porcelain fused to metal (PFM) or ceramics.
- Cantilever bridges
include adjacent teeth on only one side of the missing tooth or
teeth.
- Maryland bonded bridges
(also called a resin-bonded bridge or a Maryland bridge) are made of
false teeth supported by a metal framework. Metal wings on each side
of the bridge are bonded to your existing teeth.
Different Bridge Materials
1. Metal Dental Bridge
The strength of a metal bridge
is a tremendous advantage. Bridges made of metal, can consist of
different materials:
- Full gold bridges (FGBs)
referred to as a gold bridge. This includes gold alloy
with at least 75% high noble metals: gold, platinum, palladium. It
also contains but not limited base metals: silver, copper and tin.
- Metal alloys bridges
(palladium).
- Stainless steel or
base-metal alloy (nickel or chromium).
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| BENEFITS: |
- Full gold bridges are of
better quality when they are high in noble content.
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- Metal bridges cause less
wearing away of neighboring teeth than other bridges, and also
require less
filing
down the abutment
teeth
than other crown materials.
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- Metal also tends to last
the longer, resisting breaks and chips better than other materials.
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- They are durable and often
used for less visible teeth.
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| DOWNSIDE: |
- The obvious drawback to
metal bridges is their metallic (non-esthetic) appearance.
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2. Porcelain-Fused-to-Metal
(PFM)
Porcelain-fused-to-metal (PFM)
bridges consist of a metal core inside and a layer of porcelain outside
blended together. PFM bridges look just like normal teeth.
BENEFITS:
- Unlike purely metal tooth
bridges, shade will be matched to the color of existing teeth.
- Porcelain provides the most
natural final appearance of any other dental bridge material.
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- PFM bridges can be used on
both the hidden and prominent teeth.
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- PFM crowns are of better
quality when they are high in noble metal inside.
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- They are durable and have
enough the strength.
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| DOWNSIDE: |
- Porcelain can wear away at
neighboring teeth.
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- More vulnerable to chipping
and breaking than metal.
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- Porcelain's translucence
sometimes allow the inside metal core to show through.
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- There is more a problem at
the crown-gum line, especially if the gums recede over time.
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3.
Metal-Free Bridge or All Ceramic Restorations
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| Dental bridges made
complete of porcelain or ceramic result in the most natural final
appearance. |
| MATERIALS: |
-
Vitadur Alpha - In-ceram - Procera - Empress -
CEREC
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| BENEFITS: |
- All-ceramic bridges look
just like normal teeth.
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- Perfect for prominent
teeth.
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- The safest for patients who
might have an allergy to metals.
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| DOWNSIDE: |
- Not quite as resistant to
breaking and chipping.
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- Can cause some wearing away
of neighboring teeth.
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4. Resin Bridges
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| This type of
bridges are the least pricey
than other materials, but
they are also the most vulnerable to wear, breaks, and chips. |
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5. Temporary Dental Bridges
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| Permanent bridges are made in a
dental laboratory for a
short waiting period. On the day of your visit dentists can make temporary
bridges
for better appearance until the final bridges are ready. |
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| The temporary
bridges are
usually constructed with acrylic.
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Longevity of Dental Bridge
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| At a second or
third visit, the
temporary bridge is removed and the permanent bridge is cemented to
your teeth. The new bridge (abutment teeth) could be
mildly sensitive to cold temperatures
for a few weeks. |
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| Although, if the sensitivity is
serious, does not recede, or if the bite feels tight, contact your
dentist. Extra adjustments may be necessary. |
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Depend on the skill of the dentist
and his lab technician, permanent dental bridges can actually last up
over 10 years or more with proper care. |
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| The average lifetime of a
bridge
is around 5-7 years. NOTE:
many dental
insurances in the USA will allow for a bridge to be replaced
after only 5 years. |
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| Full gold (high in noble
content) bridges last the longest. PFM's, or porcelain-fused-to-metal
bridges have a higher chance of problem than a full gold bridge, as they
incorporate brittle porcelain. |
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Proper Care Tools and Best Products
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| But the most important factor
affecting the lifespan of any dental bridge is the continuing
oral care
performed by the patient. A crowned abutment tooth is not protected from
tooth decay
or gum disease! |
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To help fight
against bacterial plaque, dentists recommend the ESSENTIAL tools and dental products as INTERDENTAL or BETWEEN TEETH and CROWNS
CLEANINGS: |
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You should
continue performing a great oral hygiene! |
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Broken
Bridge as a
Dental Emergency
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- It is possible that the cement could wash out from
under the dental bridge, but the
bridge stands in place. Under these conditions,
germs or bacteria can leak in and cause
tooth decay.
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If your bridge seems loose, contact your
dentist! |
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Your
bridge may also fall out, due to a lack of cement or an
improper fit. Clean the bridge inside and your teeth. Put
back the dental bridge temporarily using denture adhesives: |
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or temporary cement: |
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sold for this purpose at drug
store. You may need a new bridge or to re-cement the old one. |
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Contact your
dental office immediately and schedule an appointment for the next day! |
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Contact Dentist |
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Looking forward to hearing from
you Aleksandr
V. Melekhin, DDS
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Return from Dental Bridge
to Philadelphia Dentist |
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