Several years ago I decided to take a trip to the dentist after skipping multiple appointments for over 15 years. I truly had a dental anxiety and had a hard time getting over my fears. Thankfully, my dental visit went smoothly with only four cavities identified. What I did find from this dental visit was that there was a great deal of new information and technology that I had been missing out on. Laser-based technology and digital imaging are just a few examples. With this blog, I want you to understand that you can get over your fears and learn about this new technology like I did, so enjoy the information.
If you have more than one missing tooth, chances are a dental bridge is a good option for you. Dental bridges help to literally bridge the gap between remaining teeth, creating a row of artificial teeth that blend in perfectly with their real neighbors. However, how you go about getting that bridge could make a big difference in the health of your teeth. Here's what you need to know about dental bridges, crowns, and how you can ensure that your bridge experience is a good one.
How Bridges Work
Bridges work exactly like they sound like. A row of artificial teeth is supported by an underlying bridge structure that's harnessed to two of your remaining teeth - one on either side. This helps to keep the bridge in place and ensures that your artificial teeth stay aligned with your remaining, healthy teeth.
The Problem
The issue here is that bridges can cause damage over time. Every time you chew or put pressure on the bridge, it transfers that pressure to the teeth that are supporting it. Over time, this can gradually wear away at your remaining teeth or even cause them to become slightly crooked. This is obviously something that you don't want to go through, but the good news is, you don't have to give up on a dental bridge entirely. You just need to modify how you get it.
The Solution
Dental bridges are designed to be secured to real teeth, but that doesn't mean that they don't work with crowns. In fact, some people who are missing a lot of teeth will get bridges that are supported with a singular dental implant on either side. This isn't a necessity for you, since you still have remaining teeth, but you can use a similar technique to protect those remaining teeth.
To do this, all you need to do is to have a crown placed over the two teeth that will support the bridge. That's it. The crowns will absorb the pressure and impact of chewing and biting on the bridge, and will prevent the teeth underneath from being damaged.
Getting a dental crown is an easy process, even when you have a real tooth remaining. Your dentist will custom-order one for you that's designed to fit over your real tooth. When it's ready, you'll come into have your teeth cleaned, and then the crown will be put over your two teeth with dental cement. Once they're in place, they'll immediately be able to support your dental bridge and can help you to avoid causing more damage to your teeth when you're just trying to get the missing ones replaced.
Dental crowns can do a lot for a person, including helping to prevent existing teeth from being damaged. If you've been curious about a dental bridge but don't want your teeth to be hurt or to become crooked, consult with a dentist about getting protective dental crowns put on the supporting teeth.
Share29 August 2019
