Dental Bridges in Cave Creek AZ

You can lose teeth in many different ways, including dental work, or through accidents and other mishaps. In the past, the loss of a tooth was simply something most people had to learn to accept. Today, there are many alternatives to ensure that a missing tooth doesn’t have to become an embarrassment. One technique called a Dental Bridge in Cave Creek AZ is a unique solution to the problem.

A dental bridge is designed to address a particular kind of missing tooth problem for dental patients in Cave Creek AZ. If there is a “space” in your mouth where you have a tooth, followed by a missing tooth and then another tooth, a dental bridge is a perfect solution. It is important not just for the sake of appearances, but even for your overall dental health that such a sizable gap is not allowed to persist.

Missing a tooth in a row of teeth can interfere with both your ability to speak and eat. Without an equal amount of pressure from all sides, the teeth where a gap is present may eventually become crooked with nothing to hold them securely in place. The unequal distribution of forces in your mouth when you eat, speak, and bite down can also affect your other teeth and even, potentially the shape of your face and lips.

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How Dental Bridges In Cave Creek AZ Work

A bridge is a fixed dental restoration that replaces one or more missing teeth. It comprises two crowns for the teeth on either side of the gap and an artificial tooth/set of teeth in between. The false teeth are called pontics, made of gold, alloys, porcelain, or a combination of these materials. Crowns over natural teeth or implants support dental bridges.

Our dentist in Cave Creek AZ, will first examine your teeth and take X-rays to determine if a bridge is right for you. Then, our dentist will take an impression of your mouth and send it to the lab where the bridge will be constructed. In the meantime, a temporary bridge will be placed in your mouth. Once the permanent bridge is ready, the dentist will place it in your mouth and make any necessary adjustments to ensure a proper fit.

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The Benefits of Dental Bridges

• A dental bridge can fill the gap in your smile caused by tooth loss, restoring your natural smile.
  Missing teeth can lead to tooth decay and gum disease in the surrounding teeth. A dental bridge can prevent these problems from occurring.
• Missing teeth can make it difficult to enunciate certain words or sounds appropriately. A dental bridge can help restore your speech.
• A dental bridge can help prevent further tooth loss by keeping the remaining teeth in place and preventing the surrounding teeth from shifting out of place.
• Replacing missing teeth with a dental bridge can boost confidence and improve your overall quality of life.

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Types of Dental Bridges

There are a variety of different dental bridge techniques designed to address different needs:

Traditional Bridge: The traditional dental bridge in Cave Creek works as described above, and is usually intended for teeth on the side. A traditional bridge in Cave Creek, AZ, is a fixed restoration that replaces one or more missing teeth. The bridge consists of two crowns — one on each tooth on either side of the gap — and an artificial tooth/set of teeth in between. These crowns are cemented to the teeth next to the gap to hold the false tooth in place. The false tooth can be made from gold, alloys, porcelain, or a combination of these materials.

Cantilever Bridge: Like a traditional bridge, a cantilever bridge uses a dental crown to support a pontic. However, it differs because it only attaches to one natural tooth adjacent to the gap rather than both sides. This type of bridge is used when only one suitable abutment tooth is available.

Maryland Bridge: For front teeth, the Maryland bonded dental bridge is the recommended technique if there’s only room for one crown or anchor, a cantilever dental bridge may be used if space is at a premium. The Maryland bridges are similar to traditional bridges, but they are held in place by metal or porcelain wings on the sides of the bridge that are bonded to the backs of the abutment teeth.

Implant-Supported Bridge: Dental implants rather than natural teeth support an implant-supported bridge. Dental implants are small titanium posts implanted in the jawbone. They act as anchors for the crowns that support the bridge.

As you can see, dental bridges are made in a variety of materials and can be colored to match the color of your own teeth as closely as possible. Once affixed, they generally don’t require any more extra care of your mouth than normal brushing or flossing which is a part of good dental hygiene.

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If you have a problem with a missing tooth, it’s certainly not something that you have to live with forever. A dental bridge is an effective, permanent option that can take care of the problem once and for all. Talk to our top-rated dental team at Pro-Dental Care today for more information.