Porcelain Bridges
If you have permanently lost a tooth, it’s essential that you consider filling the gap or else various complications can arise. Missing teeth can be replaced with bridges which are composed of at least two anchoring teeth, known as the abutments, on each side of where the missing tooth would be, and at least one fake tooth, known as a pontic, in the gap. Pontics can be fabricated from numerous materials such as silver amalgam, porcelain or gold.
Porcelain bridges are a particularly optimal choice for the replacement of a missing tooth as they offer a convenient, non-surgical solution to filling the gap and eliminate the need for dentures. Without the replacement of your missing tooth or teeth, you may experience severe alterations in your bite, tooth shifting, or tooth over eruption, resulting in diminished self-confidence due to the deteriorated appearance of your teeth. Believe it or not, your teeth play an integral part in helping to support your face. The placement of a porcelain bridge not only aids in restoring one’s smile and maintaining the overall face shape, but it also significantly contributes to your ability to speak and chew. This is why replacing missing teeth is of the utmost importance since you may find your skin sinking and sagging without the extra support. Visit your dentist in Vancouver, BC for a complementary assessment!
Types & Application of Dental Bridges
There are various different types of bridges available, such as traditional bridges, which are commonly made of a ceramic or metal fused to the porcelain, or Maryland bonded bridges. Generally, the whole process of completing a non-invasive bridge takes around 2 weeks as opposed to surgical implants which can take anywhere from 1 to 1 and a half years to finish successfully. The preparation of the abutment teeth is essential before the placement of a porcelain bridge. During this process the enamel of the abutments is re-contoured for the placement of the crowns. Upon installing a traditional porcelain bridge, your Vancouver cosmetic dentist will then have those crowns secured onto the abutment teeth so the pontic is properly anchored. Although porcelain bridges cost more than other types of bridges, the durability and natural qualities offered by porcelain make it a highly beneficial investment in not just reforming your smile but also your overall dental health.
Porcelain Bridges Pros
Furthermore, apart from being practical fix, a porcelain bridge is aesthetically pleasing since it blends seamlessly in with the rest of your natural teeth. The fake tooth is custom made based on impressions of your teeth in a dental laboratory and made to look and feel just like the rest of your teeth. While the pontic is being fabricated in the lab, you will be given a temporary bridge from your dentist to wear for protection of the exposed gums and surrounding teeth. The temporary bridge is then removed once the porcelain bridge has been successfully fabricated, after which it is adjusted, correctly fitted, and cemented. Unlike dentures, porcelain bridges do not need removing. They’re meant to be permanently set in your mouth so you can brush, floss, and eat with them just like your regular teeth. With proper oral hygiene and thorough check-ups, porcelain bridges are meant to last typically from 5 to over 15 years.
