Can a Dental Bridge Help with Teeth Alignment?
Replacing lost teeth with a dental bridge has many advantages. Tooth loss does not just affect the appearance of the smile, but also the ability to talk and chew easily, teeth alignment, and the person’s confidence. A dental bridge closes the gap between teeth and prevents further damage. Read on to find out how bridges can help restore teeth alignment.
Teeth alignment and oral health
If a tooth is lost or extracted, the nearby teeth may move into the space that is left over. Each tooth is aligned uniquely, depending on the shape of the jaw and bite alignment. When there is a slight disruption, the arrangement of the teeth becomes imbalanced. The missing tooth can make the existing teeth misaligned; this may expose tooth roots, causing teeth sensitivity and susceptibility to bacterial invasion and infection. Teeth misalignment can also cause problems in the jaw joints.
What is a dental bridge?
A dental bridge consists of a prosthetic tooth (or teeth) known as the pontic that is supported by one or two healthy teeth (called abutments), usually covered by dental crowns. Bridges are custom-made to appear natural and restore normal dental functions.
There are two methods of stopping the teeth from moving out of alignment after tooth loss. Use a space maintainer to hold the space occupied by the lost tooth: This works as a temporary solution until a replacement tooth is provided. The other option is to use a tooth restoration, like a dental bridge. Unlike the space maintainer that only preserves the gap, the dental bridge covers it with a custom prosthetic tooth.
For the dental bridge placement, the dentist will prepare the teeth close to the gap to get dental crowns. This is done by filing down the surfaces of those teeth. The bridge, as well as the crowns that will fit over the prepared teeth, will be custom-made with impressions of the teeth. To get the custom fitting, the dentist will make a mold of the patient’s teeth. The mold reveals important details of how the teeth align against each other so that the dental lab can fabricate a dental restoration that fits.
Producing a dental bridge takes some time. There could be a few weeks between the first appointment for the bridge preparation and the appointment when the patient finally gets the dental bridge. The patient will get a temporary bridge after the first visit. This will protect the prepared teeth and the gap from further damage and bacteria.
After the dental bridge is ready, the dentist will want to ensure that the restoration fits in the patient’s mouth comfortably. A wrong-fitting bridge will not just cause discomfort, but it may also cause problems such as bruises and infections. For a more accurate fitting, the dentist may adjust the bridge or take new molds to have the bridge remade. If the dentist and the patient are satisfied with the dental restoration, it will be bonded permanently in place.
The bottom line
If you have missing teeth, you need to visit a dentist for a tooth-replacement option. A dental bridge can replace the lost teeth and stop other teeth from moving out of place.
Request an appointment here: https://dentalesthetics.net or call Manhattan Beach Dental Esthetics at (310) 937-6453 for an appointment in our Manhattan Beach office.
Check out what others are saying about our dental services on Yelp: Dental Bridges in Manhattan Beach, CA.
Recent Posts
Same-day crowns are now achievable due to CEREC® technology, which combines modern technology with significant advances in dentistry. Patients with fragile, fractured, damaged, or broken teeth may now have their dental condition assessed and even get a new dental crown designed and installed during one visit to the dentist's office. If you are considering CEREC…
CEREC® crowns are a popular dental restoration option for individuals needing to repair a tooth that is in bad shape. These types of crowns offer an array of benefits that traditional crowns cannot bring to the table. Keep reading to learn more about CEREC® dental crowns.Outlined below are a few of the benefits of CEREC…
CEREC® crowns are becoming more and more popular as they offer an array of benefits that traditional dental crowns do not. However, because they are relatively new to dentistry, many people still have questions about what they are and what the treatment process entails.Below is a quick overview of CEREC dental crowns. This information can…
A common question dentists receive about CEREC® crowns is whether they are as strong as traditional crowns. To answer this question, it is important to understand what CEREC® crowns and traditional crowns are made of and which material is stronger. This article is a review of which restoration option is stronger. CEREC crowns are most notably…