Missing one or more teeth can affect not just your oral health, but also how you chew your food, say certain words, and your overall self-confidence. At Cannon Dental in Salt Lake City, UT, we offer patients a number of tooth replacement options tailored to their individual oral health needs, preferences, and budget. If you have lost one or more teeth in a row, then a dental bridge might be a great tooth replacement option for you.
Why should you replace missing teeth?
While it might be hard to believe since there are so many of them, each and every tooth in your mouth serves a purpose.
- When one or more teeth is missing, it can affect the way the rest of your teeth bite down and place unnecessary stress on your teeth, leading to premature wear and tear and the need for other dental restorations down the road
- Patients who are missing teeth are more likely to develop gum disease, which can be time-consuming and costly to treat and has also been linked to several serious—and deadly—health conditions such as heart attacks and strokes
- If you are missing back teeth, it can make you look older than you are due to a “sunken in” appearance in your cheeks
How dental bridges work
There are several types of dental bridges available to meet a variety of patients’ needs, but in general, a dental bridge consists of false teeth and a way of attaching them to adjacent teeth.
- In traditional fixed bridges, the false teeth are anchored in place by either placing a crown on the neighboring teeth or bonding them directly onto the teeth
- Implant-supported bridges consist of the replacement teeth that are anchored in place by strategically located dental implants
- Removable dental bridges (also called partial dentures) attach to the neighboring teeth with either clasps or precision attachments
Placing a dental bridge
Because dental bridges are custom-made for a precise and comfortable fit in your mouth, it typically takes at least two appointments to place them. For a traditional fixed bridge, we prepare the surrounding teeth for the placement of the bridge and then take impressions of your teeth so that the bridge can be fabricated in the laboratory from high-quality materials (such as porcelain, gold alloy, other alloys, or a combination of materials). Then, once the bridge is ready, we place it in your mouth.
Placing implant-supported bridges is a lengthier process because the dental implants are surgically placed in your jawbone and then fuse with your bone over the next few months to provide an ultra-stable, secure foundation for the bridge. However, due to the added durability and functionality, patients often find it is worth the wait!
To learn more about your tooth replacement options, call Cannon Dental today! Our office is conveniently located in Salt Lake City, UT near the Holladay, Bountiful, and West Valley communities and can be reached at (801) 406-9985.
Bridges - Educational Video
Bridges
A bridge is a non-surgical way to replace one or many teeth. A bridge uses the adjacent teeth as anchors to support the missing tooth or teeth. With today’s dental advancements – a bridge can be fabricated in a fairly short period of time, using a metal or nonmetal foundation. Don’t let that missing tooth affect the way you speak, eat and smile. Bridges yield immediate results that last a lifetime. Ask your dentist what type of bridge maybe right for you.
