Dental Bridges in Post Office Square, Boston, MA
A dental bridge is a fixed appliance that is used to restore a missing tooth both functionally and cosmetically. Bridgework is an art, as well as an exact science. Precision is needed to create an appliance that fits well, protects the teeth from microleakage, and creates an esthetically pleasing smile.
What Is a Dental Bridge?
A dental bridge consists of a fake tooth – used to restore a missing tooth – that is attached to a metal wing or crown. The wing/crown is attached to an adjacent tooth to support the fake tooth, thereby bridging the gap between the remaining adjacent teeth.
Materials used to fabricate a bridge include:
- Gold alloys
- Porcelain bonded to a metal alloy
- An all-ceramic material that can match the natural shade of your teeth
The type of material used to make the bridge depends on a variety of factors:
- Where the bridge is located
- Esthetics
- Wear
- The strength of the material
Types of Dental Bridges in Post Office Square
There are multiple types of bridges. Which one is right for you will depend on where the bridge is located, how much space there is between the teeth, and the health of your adjacent teeth, gum tissue, and jawbone.
Traditional Bridge
A traditional bridge consists of at least three units: the pontic and two abutments. The pontic is the faux tooth that replaces the missing tooth. The abutments are crowns that are fused to the pontic. The crowns are placed on each adjacent tooth after they have been prepared (reduced in height and circumference).
The bridge can consist of more than three units if you want to restore multiple missing teeth within a quadrant. This is not always recommended, though, as it can compromise the strength of the bridge and potentially lead to damage or loss of the remaining teeth. In this sort of situation, your Post Office Square dentist might recommend two bridges instead of one long one.
Cantilever Bridge
A cantilever bridge consists of two components, one pontic and one abutment crown. You only need to have one natural adjacent tooth next to the gap for this type of bridge. The pontic is fused to the crown, which is cemented onto the natural tooth.
Implant-Supported Bridge
Ideally, if you have multiple missing teeth, you would restore them with an equal number of implants. In some situations, though, this is not possible. Perhaps the issue is that multiple implants are financially out of the question. Another reason could be that there is not enough bone structure to support a crown in a certain part of the jawbone.
If this happens to you, an option might be an implant-supported bridge. Instead of placing crowns or porcelain/metal framework on adjacent natural teeth, you would have the pontic fused to two implant crowns.
This procedure requires oral surgery to place the implant posts into the jawbone. After a few months of healing, your Post Office Square implant dentist can take an impression for a bridge that will fit over the implants.
Maryland Bridge
A Maryland bridge is similar to a traditional bridge in that it consists of three parts. Instead of dental crowns fused to either side of the replacement tooth, a Maryland bridge uses a type of framework that looks like wings or arms.
Some of the enamel on the back of the adjacent teeth is removed so that the framework can fit snugly onto the teeth.
The framework of this type of bridge is made of either metal or porcelain. The metal is cemented to the teeth, while the porcelain would be bonded to the teeth.
As with a traditional bridge, a Maryland bridge is an option only when you have healthy natural teeth on either side of the gap from the missing tooth.
Are You a Good Candidate for a Dental Bridge in Post Office Square?
Before we embark on any treatment plan, we need to discuss your unique needs, as well as the pros and cons of each option. You can be sure that your Post Office Square dentist will take as much time as is needed to explain your options and the procedures involved to ensure that you feel completely confident in your choice of treatment.
If you have a missing tooth or teeth, contact us at (617) 426-6011 to learn more about restorative options.
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