You may have heard your dentist talk about dental bridges. Dental professionals are very good at answering questions that may arise about different treatments like bridges. But sometimes, you may not have questions until later when you’ve had time think about it a little bit. Here are some of the most common questions patients ask about dental bridges.
What is a dental bridge?
Dental bridges are false teeth, or prosthetic teeth that are used to replace missing teeth. They can be used to replace a single tooth or several missing teeth. A prosthetic tooth is placed between two crowns which are placed on the adjacent teeth on either side of the missing tooth. The crowns are attached to the teeth and then used as a support for the false tooth (or teeth) which will be suspended between them. It is called a bridge because of the way the tooth is suspended between the teeth.
What makes a person a good candidate for a bridge?
Virtually any person missing teeth is a candidate for dental bridges. If spaces between the teeth are not filled in, other teeth can become damaged or drift out of place.
What are the different types of dental bridges?
There are three basic types:
- Fixed bridge which cannot be removed
- Resin bonded bridges which are usually used for missing front teeth
- Cantilever Bridges which are typically used to replace front teeth, but can be used where there are not adjacent teeth on either side
What color will the bridge be?
Bridges are designed to give patients a natural look. The color of the bridge will vary based on the location of the teeth being replaced. How white the bridge is will also vary based on the structure and condition of your natural teeth.
