Options to complete your smile with Dental Bridges
When you are missing teeth, it is easy to feel like you are not “whole.” A lack of teeth can affect every aspect of your life, from how well you chew food and the pleasure you get from food to how you feel about your look. At Asuncion Dental Group in Frederick, Maryland, we are privileged to complete patients’ smiles and help them recover their quality of life, self-worth, and self-confidence. We have many options to accomplish this, designed to replace a single tooth, many teeth, or a mouthful of teeth. Dental bridges may be an appropriate option for some patients.
“Conventional” bridges
Traditional fixed dental bridges have been around for a long time. They replace a single tooth or a group of teeth. The bridge itself is made up of a replacement tooth, which is called a pontic. The bridge typically includes at least two crowns. These crowns are fused to the pontic. So, when the crowns are placed on the neighboring teeth closest to the gap in your smile, they provide adequate support to the pontic or replacement tooth.
Since the pontic is also joined to the crowns, this new tooth fills the gap between the abutments (neighboring teeth). As with all dental crowns, some tooth structure must be removed to make room for the crown itself. In turn, this tooth replacement option is not the most conservative one available to our patients. However, it is an economical way to effectively restore the healthy function and appearance of your smile. These teeth can also generally be cared for like natural teeth; specialized floss or interdental brushes may be recommended to clean under the bridge properly.
Implant bridges
Bridges that are retained or supported by dental implants do not require removing otherwise healthy tooth structure. That is because these bridges do not rely on crowned abutment or neighboring teeth for their strength. They get their strength and stability from underlying dental implants that are placed in the jaw. These implants are designed to function like tooth roots. They hold the overlying crowns, bridges, or dentures in place. Partial dentures, too, can be used to replace a grouping of teeth. These prosthetic teeth can be snapped into place with specialized attachments connected to dental implants in the jaw. Patients appreciate that implants recreate the design of a natural tooth. Generally, the more realistic the creation of the tooth, the better it feels, functions, and looks in your mouth.
Asuncion Dental Group has the capabilities to handle many complex procedures, including implant placement, in-house. We also have the technology to make many restorations while you wait, thanks to our computer-aided CEREC machine. Discover our advanced, comprehensive, and stress-free approach. Call us today at (301) 690-8482 to schedule your appointment.
Dental Bridges Video
