If you’ve lost teeth due to injury, tooth decay, or gum disease, there are several ways our team can help you restore your smile. Sometimes, we can use an implant or dentures to replace missing teeth, but we may also recommend a dental bridge.
Dental bridges can help fill the gaps in your smile using high-tech technology and natural-looking materials. However, when you start using your new teeth, there might be an adjustment period. Today, we’ll get a glimpse into the dental bridge process, what kind of adjustments you may need to make to wearing your bridges, and how long it might take to feel comfortable using your new teeth.
But before we can recommend a bridge as a way to help complete your smile, we always need to perform a complete dental exam so we can determine your needs and maintain your oral health. Get started today by booking an appointment with Marks Dentistry, and feel free to ask how our restorative and cosmetic services can help you and your family.
Why Get a Dental Bridge?
Before we look at the bridge process and why you might experience a short adjustment period, we should look at why people would be interested in a dental bridge in the first place.
As we mentioned earlier, the purpose of bridges is to replace missing teeth and fill gaps in your smile. However, we can also recommend bridges to help:
- Keep your teeth from shifting
- Maintain your face shape
- You speak properly
- You eat more efficiently
Getting a Dental Bridge
So what does the bridge process look like? For starters, we cannot recommend a dental bridge until you have a complete dental exam. During the exam, we’ll assess the health and function of your teeth and determine if you might need other treatments alongside having a bridge.
In some cases, we might need to extract damaged teeth before we start the bridge process, but we can once we determine if a bridge is a suitable solution for your needs.
What Bridge Is Right for You?
We might recommend a few types of bridges made from various natural-feeling and natural-looking materials. However, the most common include traditional bridges and implant bridges.
Traditional Bridges
Traditional bridges can replace one or more teeth, which we cement in place using crowns over your natural teeth. Sometimes, we may need to reshape your natural tooth so the crown can fit securely.
Implant Bridges
Implant bridges are placed with implants, which will need oral surgery to install. Dental implants are artificial roots that bond with your jawbone in a process that can take a few months to complete.
We will need to wait until you’ve finished healing from the implant before we can apply the dental bridge.
Putting On Your Bridge
Your bridge appointment is quite straightforward, and your dentist will be happy to walk you through the process in detail after they determine you are a candidate for the treatment. Some of the steps you can expect to take include:
- Your dentist filing down a few of your natural teeth to allow space for a crown, or a dental implant surgery to install the implants that will anchor your tooth.
- Your dentist taking moulds of your teeth to help create your bridge.
- Wearing a temporary bridge for a short time while your permanent bridge is being made.
Your temporary bridge will also help protect your natural teeth and gums until your permanent bridge is ready.
After Getting a Dental Bridge
Adjusting to Your Bridge
After your dentist installs your bridge, there will be a small adjustment period as you get used to using them as natural teeth. During this time, you may need to adjust your eating habits, like avoiding overly hot or cold foods.
Some foods can damage your bridge, so we might recommend staying away from:
- Popcorn
- Hard candy
- Gum and sticky candy
- Nuts
However, using your new bridges shouldn’t take much longer than a few weeks. If your bite is uncomfortable or you notice swelling or bleeding in the gums around your bridge, please get in touch with us as soon as possible.
Caring for Your Bridge
After you get your bridge, you’ll need to care for them like any other natural tooth. Remember to brush twice a day, floss once a day, and keep up with your regular dental exam and hygiene appointments.
Your dental bridge can last up to 10 years with proper care and hygiene.
Enjoy a Full, Radiant Smile
Your journey toward a fuller-looking smile can start today! All you have to do is contact the team at Marks Dentistry. Whether you need to restore your smile using a bridge, implant, or crown, our team is here and ready to help.
If you’d like to see how a dental bridge could help you achieve the smile you deserve, please book an appointment today.
