A missing tooth can create an unsightly gap, but it’s often more than a cosmetic problem. You could also experience pain when chewing, discomfort in your jaw, or other problems that are caused by a change to your bite.
What is a Dental Bridge?
A dental bridge is a solution when you have lost a tooth, or when you have a gap that is causing your other teeth to become loose.
There are four main types of dental bridge in Panama,
- A traditional bridge is the most common type, which includes one or more fake teeth held in place with crowns. These crowns are cemented to the teeth surrounding the tooth that is missing.
- A cantilever bridge, which is supported by a crown on only one side. If you only have one tooth next to your missing tooth, you can still have this type of crown secured to your mouth.
- Maryland bridges offer a more conservative approach, using porcelain or metal framework to hold the fake tooth in place. These bridges aren’t as strong as those cemented in.
- Implant-supported bridge, which is often used when you have more than one tooth that is missing. These bridges are held in place by implants, which are secured to your jawbone for maximum stability.
Dental Bridge in Panama: Placement
First Appointment: Teeth Preparation and Temporary Bridge Placement
The first step is to file the healthy teeth each side into an appropriate shape for the bridge to be placed. Impressions of the shaped teeth are then made and sent to a dental laboratory for the construction of the bridge. The prosthetics should be closely matched in color to the surrounding natural teeth for aesthetic purposes, so a sample color should be taken at this point.
Some patients may be fitted with a temporary bridge, which is typically made out of filling material and functions to protect the shaped teeth from damage while the permanent bridge is being constructed.
Second Appointment: Permanent Bridge Placement
Before the permanent dental bridge can be placed, the temporary one should be removed and, if necessary, the underlying teeth cleaned. Dental cement can then be used to fix the dental bridge in place on the abutment teeth.
The results can then be seen and the patient can experience what it feels like on biting the teeth together gently. While it should be expected that the bridge feels unfamiliar at first, this usually wears off quickly. There may be need for a few final adjustments to the bridge in some cases.
Benefits of Dental Bridges
Whether you opt for a traditional bridge or an implant-supported one, bridges can greatly enhance your appearance by replacing missing teeth as well as by preventing sagging of the soft tissues around the mouth.
Bridges can improve your ability to eat, especially if several teeth were missing. Any speech issues due to missing teeth can also be corrected.
Patients with implant-supported bridges gain additional benefits because dental implants actually prevent jawbone loss by simulating tooth roots.
For a consultation on Dental Bridge in Panama, contact us.