When it comes to replacing a missing tooth, there are several good options to choose from. Our Long Islands dentist may recommend that you go with a traditional dental bridge.
What Is A Traditional Dental Bridge?
A traditional dental bridge is a connection of three or more dental crowns. This restorative treatment requires you to have a natural stable adjacent tooth in front of and behind the space that you’re wanting to fill in. Essentially, we’re “bridging in the gap” by making a single unit of three or more teeth.
How Is A Traditional Dental Bridge Made?
The teeth that will be serving as anchors for your bridge will be prepped for crowns. For the areas with missing teeth, an artificial tooth will be made (known as a pontic). Your bridge will be a single unit of three or more crowns that will look like teeth when you’re smiling. Each one is functional.
Your bridge procedure is a two or three-step process. At the first visit, our dentist will prep your natural teeth to make room for the bridge. If the tooth that is needing to be replaced is still present, we will remove it at this time.
Typically, if the tooth is already missing, we can go ahead and take an impression of your teeth to send to our lab, where they will use it to design and fabricate your permanent bridge. This process can take several weeks, so in the meantime you’ll be wearing a temporary bridge.
Your Temporary Dental Bridge
Your temporary bridge will be made at our office. The material used is of a plastic consistency. While your temporary will hold the space for your permanent bridge, it may not look or feel as high quality as your permanent one will.
To a certain extent, you’ll need to be cautious with what you eat with your temporary bridge in place. Avoid eating very hard foods like nuts or granola. The temporary restoration could possibly become detached because the cement we use to place it with isn’t meant to be permanent. You may also want to avoid sticky things like chewing gum.
How Long Will I Wear A Temporary Dental Bridge?
If you were already missing the tooth that we are replacing, then you’ll probably only have to go with the temporary bridge as long as it takes for the permanent one to be constructed, which is typically two to three weeks.
However, if you have a tooth pulled on the day that we prepped you for the bridge, then you may be asked to wear the temporary longer. The reason for this is because when we have a tooth removed, the gum tissue in that area shrinks as it heals. If we were to immediately take the impressions (that measure your gum tissue when we extract the tooth) and send to have the permanent bridge made, there will likely be a gap in the area of the missing tooth.
To avoid this from happening, we will typically have you wear your temporary for a few more weeks to provide plenty of time for the gum tissue to shrink and fully heal. Once the area is as tight as it’s going to be, you’ll return for us to remove your bridge, take an impression of your teeth and that area, then recement your bridge. At that point, we’ll send your impressions off to the dental lab where they’ll craft your permanent restoration.
Your Permanent Dental Bridge
Traditional bridges are made in a laboratory by skilled dental technicians. During your initial visit, we’ll use a shade guide to find the best match to coordinate the color with your existing teeth. Dental lab technicians can custom paint the bridge material, so if you have any distinctive spots or lines throughout your teeth, we can ask the technician to mimic them. We may also want to take some photos of your teeth to send to the laboratory.
In addition to having the shade match, the size and shape of the crowns on your permanent bridge will coordinate with your natural teeth. The technicians will use the appearance of your other teeth that show up in the impression to make everything “fit” appropriately.
The material used to make a permanent bridge can vary from one patient to the next. If you grind your teeth regularly, we may use a stronger material. However, for a bridge that covers your front teeth, we would likely use a more aesthetically appealing material. Whatever the final product is, you can rest assured knowing that it will look, function, fit, and feel great!
Once your permanent bridge has been completed and returned to us from the lab, we’ll see you for a final appointment. Typically, no anesthesia is needed for this visit. But we can always play that by ear, especially if it will make you more comfortable to be numb during the procedure.
First, we’ll remove your temporary, clean up the teeth, try in your permanent bridge, make adjustments to the bite and contacts if needed, then cement everything in place. Overall, the visit is pretty simple and doesn’t take very long.
Traditional Dental Bridge vs. Other Tooth Replacement Options
A cantilever bridge is another tooth replacement option that doesn’t require two anchors 一 it’s a connection of two teeth 一 one real and one artificial.
Another is the Maryland bridge. Maryland bridges are a single tooth that has “wings” attached to each side. The “wings” are cemented to the back of the teeth adjacent to that space.
Both of these bridges are good tooth replacement options but they’re intended for “low-stress” areas of the mouth that don’t take on a lot of pressure. A traditional bridge is definitely the best option for replacing back teeth.
Tooth Replacement Options in Long Island
If you have a tooth that needs to be replaced and you want to see what your best options will be, then call Sachem Dental Group. Here, our team of multi-specialist general dentists will gladly help you find the best solution for your smile. Call our Suffolk County office today!