Am I a Good Candidate for Dental Bridges?

 
 

Are you looking for a natural-looking way to fill in your missing teeth? Dental bridges may be the answer you are looking for.

What are Dental Bridges?

A dental bridge is used to replace missing teeth. It consists of crowns that attach to one or two healthy teeth on each side of the tooth gap to anchor the new tooth, allowing you to bite and chew as normal.

What Makes a Good Dental Bridge Candidate?

Dental bridges are for people who have gaps from missing teeth. Those looking to get a dental bridge should have strong and healthy teeth on either side of the gap, so the bridge has something to attach to. To be a good candidate for a dental bridge, you also must have great oral health without gum disease or tooth decay and good oral hygiene habits. 

Dentists evaluate a few things when determining a person’s need for dental bridges. These include:

  • Age. Typically, patients are over 18 when they receive this treatment.

  • The number of missing teeth. Too many missing teeth may require dentures.

  • Gap size. The size of the gap will determine the type of bridge you need.

  • Condition of surrounding teeth. If the surrounding teeth are not healthy enough, a dental bridge may not be the best option.

  • Overall mouth health. Healthy teeth and gums are necessary for this treatment. 

Types of Dental Bridges

Bridges are typically made from either metal or porcelain, depending on where the missing teeth are in the mouth. Metal bridges are often used for the back of the mouth, while porcelain is used for teeth that are more visible at the front of the mouth.

There are four different types of bridges:

Traditional fixed bridge: With this bridge, crowns attach to the healthy teeth next to the gap, called an abutment. These abutments hold the new tooth, or the pontic, in place.

Maryland dental bridge: This bridge uses metal wings to attach to the back of the abutment teeth.

Cantilever bridge: Cantilever bridges use only one abutment tooth to hold the pontic in place if there are only healthy teeth on one side of the gap.

Implant-supported bridge: This is where implants support the bridge instead of natural teeth.

For help determining whether you are a good dental bridge candidate, or to explore other options, schedule an appointment at our office today!

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