Dental Bridges
If you are missing one tooth or several, one cost-effective solution is a dental bridge (sometimes referred to as a partial denture). A bridge closes the gaps in your smile.
Bridges are very durable and are sculpted to look like natural teeth. A bridge gets its name because it “bridges” the gaps in the top or bottom arch of the mouth when only some teeth are missing.
A pink-colored or gum-colored base is formed to hold the replacement teeth, usually with a metal framework, and the remaining teeth are used to hold the bridge in place. The bridge is attached to the abutting teeth for stability. Caring for a bridge is easy, requiring just routine brushing.
Four types of bridges are available:
Traditional
Implant-supported
Cantilever
Maryland
Dr. Alvarez can explain the different options to you and help you decide which one is best for your situation.
Bridges can help prevent the loss of bone density caused by missing teeth. In the first year after a tooth is lost, up to 25% of bone volume can be reabsorbed back into the body. After one year, bone loss will progress. If you have ever noticed the sunken-in appearance of someone who has lost many or all of their teeth, sagging facial muscles create that appearance in response to the bone loss.
Bone density is maintained by the pressure of chewing on the jawbone by teeth. Using a bridge over gaps helps recreate that pressure to preserve the jawbone.