Tooth loss can be caused by advanced gum disease, decay, trauma, or injury and can negatively affect your oral and general health. These days, people care about their oral health and dental cosmetics as much as their general health. Based on the article published in faze.ca, Dr. Ebrahim Aminsalehi, a professional cosmetic dentist from Pearl Dental Group, states “the number of patients who go for cosmetic dental operations has increased by an average of twenty percent over the past three years”.
There are several different tooth replacement options that can restore your smile and help you stay on track for optimal oral health. A dental bridge is one of these treatment options. A dental bridge is a false tooth held in place by the base teeth on either side of the gap. Although false teeth can be made from various materials, such as gold, they are usually made of porcelain to blend in beautifully with your natural teeth. There are different types of cosmetic dental bridges. Your cosmetic dentist will recommend the most suitable teeth, depending on the missing tooth’s location and the teeth, mouth, and gums condition.
Traditional cosmetic dental bridges are the most common type of bridge. The denture will be placed in the space where your tooth was in the past. This denture is attached to a crown on both sides. These crowns are cemented to adjacent teeth to hold the bridge in place. Crowning involves removing the structure of healthy teeth, so it is important to consider other options, such as dental implants, that can be placed without affecting other teeth.
Other types of cosmetic dental bridges are called cantilever bridges. Although cantilever bridges are similar to a traditional bridge, the false tooth or denture is held in place by a tooth crown that is cemented to only one resident tooth. For a cantilever bridge, you only need a natural tooth next to the missing tooth gap.
Dental implant bridges are used if you do not have healthy teeth or enough teeth to support the cosmetic dental bridge or when some or all of the teeth are missing. A custom made bridge anchors on dental implants. The cosmetic dentist should first determine whether a cosmetic dental implant is right for you or not.
There are several benefits to a cosmetic dental bridge, including:
- Reducing the pressure on the teeth on both sides of the gap
- Preventing tooth decay and gum disease caused by food particles in the gap between the teeth
- Reducing the risk of bone resorption
- Ensuring a smooth and clean jawline and improving the face appearance
Besides advantages, there are also some disadvantages of the cosmetic dental bridge. These disadvantages have listed below:
The risk of infection from food trapped under the dental bridge due to poor dental hygiene will be increased. For the first few weeks, teeth become sensitive to hot or cold foods and liquids. The teeth on either side of the gap may need to be reduced so that the crown can fit in that gap. Finally, it should be noted that cosmetic dental bridge is very expensive.