Your Guide to Dental Bridges: Options for Filling the Gaps

A gap in your smile can make you feel self-conscious when you interact with other people. However, missing teeth also cause other issues, many of which affect the functionality of your teeth. If you’re missing more than one tooth, we may be able to help you restore both your smile and its functionality with dental bridges. 

How Dental Bridges Work

A dental bridge is used to replace one or more missing teeth in a dental arch. The word “bridge” refers to the way two teeth at either end of a gap anchor artificial teeth to fill gaps in your teeth. To have a bridge, you need to have one natural tooth or implant tooth at both ends to “bridge” the gap in your teeth. 

The Components of a Dental Bridge

There are two basic components of a dental bridge: the abutments and the pontics.

• Abutments: This refers to the two teeth that are used to anchor your bridge. Abutments can be two of your healthy natural teeth, two dental implants, or a combination (one dental implant and one natural tooth).
• Pontics: The pontics are the artificial teeth used to fill the gap. Pontics make up the bridge, while the abutments serve as the anchors.

The Advantages of Dental Bridges

First, a dental bridge can completely restore your smile if you’re missing teeth on one side of your mouth. This restores not just the look of your smile, but also your functionality for chewing and speaking. It’s also important to note that when you’re missing several teeth, it affects the shape of your face and eventually causes bone loss. A bridge solves these problems. 

Traditional Dental Bridges

A traditional dental bridge is the one most commonly used. Your dentist can use a traditional bridge when you have two healthy teeth at both ends of a gap between your teeth. This is the best option if you have healthy teeth but need to replace one or more missing teeth. For this process, the abutment teeth are reshaped, and a temporary bridge is placed. You’ll return to the office a second time for the placement of your permanent bridge.

Implant-Supported Bridges

If you don’t have healthy natural teeth, an implant-supported bridge is an excellent option. With this type of bridge, your dentist will place two dental implants, one at each end of the gapped area. The implants then serve as the abutments, or anchors. The process for implant-supported bridges is much longer because it takes up to six months for the titanium screw in the dental implant to fuse with the jawbone. 

Bridge Options for Missing Teeth in Bryn Mawr, PA

If you live in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, and you want to get your teeth fixed, you have an excellent option. The team at Main Line Dental Health & Wellness in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, is here to help you restore your smile with a dental bridge. Call us at (610) 947-5566 or book an appointment today using our online form.

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