Cambridge City Dental
Perth Dental Bridges
Have you recently suffered dental damage or lost a tooth? A dental bridge may be the solution you’ve been looking for to help you restore your natural smile.
What are dental bridges?
If an accident or tooth decay has resulted in you having one or more missing teeth, your Perth dentist may suggest a dental bridge as a possible solution for restoring your natural teeth.
A dental bridge is a prosthetic appliance that is designed to replace a missing tooth or teeth and consists of an artificial pontic that is anchored to natural teeth (abutment teeth) on either side of the gap. The pontic covers the gap created by the missing tooth while being attached to the surrounding teeth, securing the dental bridge in your mouth.
Dental bridges are most commonly made from porcelain fused to metal, full porcelain or are dental implant-supported. There are four common types of dental bridges - traditional, cantilever, implant-supported and Maryland, each procedure requiring either dental crowns, dental implants, or a dental framework to function.
A dental bridge
Call our Perth dentists today or book an appointment online to see if a dental bridge is right for you!
What are the different types of dental bridges?
At Cambridge City Dental, we can provide you with four different types of dental bridges, each procedure requiring a specific fitting method.
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Traditional dental bridges are the most popular dental bridge design. They are produced from either ceramic or porcelain attached to a metal frame. Each end of the traditional bridge bears a dental crown that connects it to the healthy teeth, called abutment teeth, on each side of the gap. To complete the traditional bridge procedure, your dentist will prepare your abutment teeth and fit the bridge.
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Implant-supported bridges are supported by dental implants instead of a dental crown or metal framework. This treatment requires your dentist to fit a number of dental implants, one for each missing tooth, and the dental implants jointly hold the tooth bridge in place. If it's not possible to fit dental implants in place of every missing tooth, the bridge can be suspended between two implant-supported dental crowns.
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Unlike a traditional or implant-supported bridge, Maryland bridges are not held in place by a dental crown or dental implant. A Maryland bridge is secured in position by your dentist using a metal or porcelain framework, which is bonded by resin to the back of either one or two healthy teeth adjacent to the gap. The limitation of this type of restorative dentistry treatment is that the strength of it is determined by how well the resin can hold the bridge in place. The framework may also interfere with your bite.
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Cantilever bridges are very similar to traditional bridges, except that they are supported by a dental crown on only one side of the bridge. The downside of this type of dental bridge is that it may act as a lever, leading to potential complications such as loosened dental crowns.
Frequently Asked Questions
about Dental Bridges
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A dental bridge is a very effective way to replace a missing tooth or teeth. Tooth loss can occur as a result of a variety of reasons, including health conditions such as periodontal disease, tooth decay from poor oral health, from physical trauma to the mouth during an accident or in the course of practising a sports activity.
Missing teeth can create unsightly gaps in your smile and can cause discomfort. In addition, the healthy teeth on either side of the gap can shift from their natural positions if the missing teeth are not replaced, distorting your normal bite. Persistent headaches are also a common complaint. A dental bridge may be fitted into such gaps to address these problems.
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Good oral care habits such as brushing your teeth twice a day will help prevent decay of the abutment teeth and formation of dental cavities.
Flossing the gap between the gum and your false teeth as well as generally maintaining a good standard of oral hygiene will go a long way to prolonging the life of your dental bridge.
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The cost of a dental bridge treatment depends on the type of bridge you require.
In Australia, the average cost of a traditional tooth bridge treatment varies from $1,200 to $1,500, but a two tooth cantilever dental bridge with a crown may go up to $4,500.
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A dental bridge can prevent health problems that arise from the loss of a tooth.
You should expect the following benefits when you receive a dental bridge:
Cosmetic restoration that eliminates gaps and ugly decayed teeth.
Protection against misaligned teeth caused by teeth moving to fill an empty space.
Restoration of proper bite mechanics with less tooth sensitivity to pressure.
Prevention of changes to the shape of your face due to lost teeth.
Preservation of normal chewing and speech abilities.
Do you want to know more about our Perth Dental Bridges?
Losing a tooth is no small thing. It can not only affect your confidence, but can result in further health and dental complications down the track if not treated in a timely manner. If you have lost one or more teeth through tooth decay or suffered damage to your teeth, a dental tooth bridge can help restore your natural smile.
Our team of Perth dentists always provide our patients with the necessary information to help them make a decision about which kind of dental bridge would work best for their individual situation, whether that be one that requires crowns, implants or a framework.
The dentist team at Cambridge City Dental are highly knowledgeable in all things general dentistry, restorative dentistry, and cosmetic dentistry. With over 15 years of experience, our mission to help transform your smile through natural-looking solutions. To finally get the smile you’ve always wanted, get in touch with our dentist team or book an appointment online today!
Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.