You had a big birthday coming up and you decided to rededicate yourself to your health to prepare for you. You wanted to get in shape to look and feel great when you celebrated, which meant overhauling your diet. You were enjoying a new snack when you bit down hard on a roasted almond, and felt one of your teeth come loose. The same problem tooth you’ve had for years finally came out – and you need to take care of your dental health. You’re young though, and you don’t want dentures – what other options do you have? In this post, Beverly Rose DMD, your premier dentist in Melbourne, explains how a bridge can close the gaps in your smile.
What Are Dental Bridges?
Dr. Rose likes to define what dental bridges are before she expounds on the advantages of this restorative treatment. A dental bridge in Melbourne consists of two parts:
- Dental Crown – Two anchoring dental crowns act as the secure foundation that holds the artificial replacement teeth in place. For dental crowns to perform best, your surrounding teeth need to be strong and free from decay, so that the crown addition works well.
- Pontic – These are the prosthetic teeth that rest in the middle of the dental crowns. If you imagine a literal bridge – like one at a playground, for example – the pontics would be the steps that a child walks across and the crowns would be the landings. You can use one, two, or more pontics to replace as many teeth as necessary.
What Are The Advantages Of Dental Bridges?
Dr. Rose knows that dental bridges are an excellent alternative to partial dentures for many reasons, including:
- Bridges prevent your remaining teeth from shifting to fill in the gaps where your missing teeth. This keeps them safe from chips, cracks, and breaks that can happen when teeth move out of place.
- Bridges help maintain the natural, symmetrical look and shape of your face and jaw.
- Bridges are fixed, so you don’t have to worry about them slipping out of place – you can forget about embarrassing dentures that wiggle and reside in a cup at night.
- Dental bridges are stable and durable, making proper speech and easy chewing possible.
- Dental bridges are much easier to adjust to than dentures, due to their natural placement and fixed position.
- Dental bridges are a long-lasting solution – they can last anywhere from 5 to 15 years with proper care and a commitment to good oral hygiene.
Now that you know how dental bridges from Dr. Beverly Rose can give you your winning smile back, schedule your appointment to talk about your dental bridge – or other oral healthcare needs – today!