Category: Dental Bridges

Are you struggling with tooth loss? Perhaps you’ve changed the way you smile and laugh to conceal the gap in your teeth, or you’re having trouble pronouncing some words or enjoying your favorite foods. Whether you’ve lost one or more teeth to trauma, age, or tooth decay, your dentist may recommend dental bridges in Watertown MN to fill the space and restore the full function and aesthetic of your mouth. 

Dental bridges are a common treatment that allows you to maintain the proper alignment of your teeth, which in turn helps to keep your teeth and gums clean and healthy through your normal oral hygiene routine. They provide you with one of the most affordable, permanent tooth replacement options, making your mouth feel whole and normal. 

Cost of Dental Bridges 

There are different types of dental bridges in Watertown MN with varied costs depending on, among other factors, the type of dental materials used and type of bridgework used. Porcelain or zirconia are the most common materials and can be nearly as expensive as gold. But the materials are tooth-colored and look like your natural teeth, which makes them a popular option. Moreover, they’re very tough and durable, giving you a long-lasting replacement tooth. 

Whichever material you use, the type of bridgework will influence your cost of treatment as follows:

• Traditional bridges are supported by two teeth that need to be prepared to accommodate abutment crowns that hold up the replacement tooth. It is the most common procedure, and the cost should be paid in full or partly by your dental insurance plan. 
• Cantilever bridges are only supported by one tooth, but use a similar process to traditional bridges. They may be slightly cheaper than traditional bridges, but won’t be as strong. 
• Resin-bonded bridges don’t require abutment crowns or preparation of adjacent teeth to support the pontic. However, they are more expensive than the other two options.
• Implant-supported bridges are also expensive because of the additional cost of placing dental implants. The need for additional procedures in order to restore your complete smile will add to the total cost of treatment. With implant-supported bridges, you need to visit a dental surgeon for the placement of the implants. Any other dental specialists that you visit due to other dental complications will also increase your total cost of treatment, but it may be necessary to ensure optimal results. 

Want to learn more about dental implants, please schedule an appointment with your Watertown dentist to design the most suitable treatment plan for your needs and budget.

Dental bridges are a common restorative dental treatment used to replace one or more missing teeth. The bridgework, comprising a false tooth (pontic) attached to two crowns on either side (abutment), fills the space left behind by missing teeth. 

Here are some other facts about dental bridgework:

1. Why Should I Fill Spaces Between My Teeth?

Gaps between your teeth not only affect the beauty of your smile but also interrupt your speech and ability to chew your food. If left unfilled, the teeth adjacent to the gap can begin to shift out of position, creating smaller gaps between your teeth that are hard to keep clean. This can lead to bacteria buildup that makes you susceptible to gum disease, decay, bad breath, and other oral issues. Moreover, the moving teeth can affect your bite, causing malocclusion and jaw problems. 

2. How do Dental Bridges Work?

Dental bridgework provides one of several treatments available to replace one or more missing teeth. A dental bridge refers to a fabricated, replacement tooth that is connected to two crowns on either side and used to fill the gap left by a missing tooth. The crowns supporting the false tooth (pontic) are attached to the adjacent teeth on each side of the gap, forming a bridge. The dental bridge is held in place by the adjacent healthy teeth via the abutments, helping to restore the function and aesthetic of your smile. The bridge may also be anchored to teeth on only one side of the gap, forming a cantilever bridge. If the gap is too big, dental implants may be added to support the bridgework, especially when replacing multiple teeth in a row. 

3. How is the Procedure for Dental Bridges Done?

Getting a dental bridge typically requires two or more dental appointments. The first appointment involves examining your mouth to determine your suitability for the procedure. Afterward, the dentist prepares the abutment teeth by removing some of the tooth enamel to create room to place the crown over them without changing the shape or size of the tooth. The dentist then takes an impression of the teeth and uses it to create a model to fabricate your permanent bridge in a dental lab. This process takes several days, so a temporary bridge will be placed over the prepared teeth to protect them in the meantime. The permanent bridge is placed on the second appointment. 

Final Note 

Your bridgework should last many years depending on your oral hygiene routine and mouth-related habits. Please discuss with your dentist in Watertown about ways to maximize the longevity of your dental bridges. 

There are several types of dental bridges in Watertown, though the traditional bridge comprising one or more fake teeth (known as pontics) anchored by dental crowns (known as abutments) that are cemented to the teeth on each side of the gap, is the most common option. 

Dental bridges offer numerous benefits, compared to leaving a gap between your teeth unattended to, including:

• Restoring your ability to chew food properly 
• Restoring your ability to speak properly 
• Restoring the natural aesthetic look of your smile and mouth 
• Preventing adjacent natural teeth from shifting and affecting your bite 
• Maintaining the normal structure of your face 

Moreover, there are different types of dental bridges in Watertown, each of which is suited for certain situations and offers specific benefits to the user. These types and benefits include:

• Traditional fixed bridges – this is the most popular type of bridgework. Traditional permanent bridges can be used in any position in your mouth, including missing molars, provided you have strong adjacent teeth on both sides of the gap. Moreover, this approach can be used to replace up to 6 missing teeth using 6-unit bridgework. 
• Cantilever bridges – this type of bridgework is not as common and is only used when the pontic can only be supported by healthy teeth on one side of the gap. The pontic is bonded to only one abutment crown. This option can only be used with front teeth where you can control biting force, as opposed to back teeth that are subjected to heavy chewing forces. 
• Resin-bonded or Maryland bonded bridges – this option consists of a pontic that is attached to a porcelain or metal frame, which is then held in place using one or two wings that are attached to the adjacent healthy teeth. Resin-bonded bridges are typically used to fill gaps in the front of the mouth. They are a good choice because they’re conservative, with virtually no preparation of the adjacent teeth to support the pontic in place. But since they’re prefabricated, the dentist may need to trim the surrounding teeth to achieve a good fit. They’re also low-risk, strong, permanent, and look very realistic. 
• Implant-supported bridges – if you’ve lost multiple teeth in a row, then implant-supported bridges can help to stabilize the bridgework. The pontics are secured to one or more implant-supported crowns spread across the gap, giving you a restoration that is just as strong as if the bridgework were anchored to your natural teeth. 

Please consult your dentist in Watertown MN to learn more about dental bridgework and to determine whether you’re a good candidate for the procedure.