What is a Dental Bridge
A dental bridge is a prosthetic consideration that is a fixed alternative to removable dentures. Where the removable prosthesis falls short, the dental bridge comes in to fill in the gap, so serving patients the way they expect. What it is, is a linked dental crown; a single crown may be brought together so that two or three units may be put together to support an artificial tooth. What is a dental bridge process entail?
Understanding the Process
If you are going to get a dental bridge to replace a tooth or a few teeth that was lost, know that you will be going through a process. It may not seem important to you, but it is because it will help your prepare and get ready for what is going to come. Moreover, by understanding the process you will be able to appreciate more, what your dentist is trying to do for you.
Step 1: Tooth Preparation. The first and most important step in the process is tooth preparation. This is the drilling and reduction of the tooth that will be used in the bridgework for support. Some dental bridges require reduction around the whole tooth, some reductions are limited to just the facial surface of the tooth. Either way, reductions are around 1 to 2 millimeter.
Step 2: Impression Taking, Shade Guide and Bite Registration. After tooth reduction, an impression or negative copy of the prepared tooth will be taken so that a cast or mould may be created from it. Aside from this, proper shade should be selected so that it may match any existing teeth; and the bite of the patient is recorded with the wax so that the cast may be articulated together during fabrication.
Step 3: Laboratory Fabrication. With the instructions from the dentist, the laboratory technician begins to fabricate the dental bridge following whatever was noted on the job order form. Dental Bridges are specific to a patient so everything is important for the success of the whole process.
Step 4: Trial Fitting of Prosthetic. In between fabrication and final cementation, several appointments will have to be scheduled so that the dental bridges may be fitted on the patient’s teeth and adjustments may be made accordingly.
Step 5: Final Fitting and Cementation. Once everything is good and the dental bridges are of a good fit and appearance, the patient is finally asked to come in to cement the bridge. Using a permanent cement, the prosthetic is installed and the patient is given proper instructions to help take good care of the fixed dental bridge.
Apart from knowing how the dental bridges are made, it is also important that you make a good choice about the type of dental bridge you get. First with the type of material to be used; second with the type of design of dental bridge — because the choice you make is going to determine the kind of experience you enjoy with your prosthesis.
According to the Material
Plastic. Often indicated for use as a temporary, the plastic bridges are not as reliable in terms of aesthetics and function even when it is reinforced with a metal framework.
Composite Resin. This is another material option which is good for a temporary crown but it is also the material used for direct restorations such as fiber-reinforced bridges.
Porcelain. The most popular material for dental bridges is porcelain because aesthetics, strength and function is quite reliable. Porcelain may be made pure, for high aesthetics, but it may be reinforced with a metal framework for strength. Today, as an alternative to the less aesthetic metal, zirconium could be utilized as a tooth-colored material.
Ceramic. This is an alternative to porcelain and this is a good option because it offers exemplary aesthetics and function; and when the dental office you choose is equipped with the CEREC system, immediate fabrication of dental bridges may be possible.
Metal. This type of material is chosen only when the sole priority is strength and durability. It does not satisfy aesthetics in anyway, so this is only chosen when cosmetics can be compromised.
According to the Design
Full-Coverage Crowns. This is the most reliable design for dental bridges. The reduction is performed around the entire tooth, so you can rely on it to be retained properly on the tooth.
Maryland Bridges. This kind of dental bridge design limits tooth reduction to just a single surface, to be able to preserved more tooth. It supports aesthetics but may not be as reliable in function because of the compromised retention that comes with the design.
Fiber-Reinforced Bridges. This is a new design for dental bridges where composite resin is used and the bridge is directly formed in the patient’s mouth. There is no tooth reduction performed, but the artificial tooth is supported through the use of a fiber mesh that is attached to the natural tooth.
Dental Bridges are amazing prosthetic options. They replace tooth or teeth that have been lost, and they do so by providing superb function and aesthetics to the patient. Dental Bridges can restore the patient’s bite and smile, and they may be installed over the natural teeth or even on dental implants. They make very good alternative to removable dentures that rely on the bone, the palate, the teeth and saliva to be retained in the mouth. They are fixed through permanent cementation and they can survive in the patient’s mouth for quite some time.