Missing teeth can cause difficulty with chewing and speaking. It also affects your smile and confidence. If your teeth are missing or you have gaps between your teeth, consider getting a bridge. A dental bridge is a fixed prosthesis that replaces missing teeth. It is anchored to neighboring teeth or dental implants and consists of a false tooth/teeth that fills the gap created by one or more missing teeth. The false teeth are called pontics and are fused between two dental crowns. These crowns are called abutments and are cemented to the natural teeth on either side of the gap. At Inverness Smiles: John Aiken, DMD, dental bridges can be made from gold, alloys, porcelain, or a combination of these materials.

Types of Dental Bridges

Traditional Dental Bridges

Traditional bridges are the most common type of bridge used by our dentist in Birmingham, AL. This type of bridge consists of two crowns that go over two anchoring teeth and are attached to pontics made from either porcelain fused to metal or ceramics.

Cantilever Bridges

Cantilever bridges are used when healthy teeth are on only one side of the missing tooth space. In this type of bridge, the pontic is anchored by a dental crown on the adjacent tooth.

Maryland Bridges

Maryland bridges are similar to traditional bridges, except a metal framework is used instead of crowns. These bridges are more conservative than traditional bridges because less of the tooth structure is removed when preparing the adjacent teeth for the bridge.

Implant-Supported Bridges

An implant-supported bridge is similar to a traditional bridge but uses dental implants instead of crowns or frameworks. Dental implants are small titanium posts surgically placed into the jawbone to replace the roots of missing teeth. Once the implants have healed, they are used to support the bridge.

The Benefits of Dental Bridges

Dental bridges in Birmingham, AL, have emerged as a highly effective solution for individuals with missing teeth. One of the foremost benefits of dental bridges is their ability to restore aesthetics. These custom-made prosthetic devices blend with the surrounding natural teeth, mimicking their color, shape, and size. The result is a smile that looks natural and boosts self-esteem and confidence. This aesthetic restoration can profoundly impact an individual's social interactions and overall quality of life, allowing them to smile and communicate with renewed self-assurance.

Beyond aesthetics, dental bridges are pivotal in restoring proper chewing and biting function. Missing teeth can significantly impair one's ability to chew various foods, potentially leading to nutritional deficiencies and digestive issues. By providing a stable and functional replacement for missing teeth, dental bridges enable individuals to enjoy a broader range of foods, supporting better overall health.

Maintenance of dental bridges is relatively straightforward, requiring regular brushing, flossing, and routine dental check-ups. To learn more about dental bridges, contact Inverness Smiles: John Aiken, DMD, at 5291 Valleydale Rd Suite 129, Birmingham, AL 35242, or call (205) 995-3989.