Dental Implant Bridge

By: Ken Hurt

Total Views: 383, Word Count: 820,

You have to visit your dentist if you want dental implants for your missing teeth. Dental care is a must as dental health is of utmost importance. Cosmetic dentistry will make you a new person if you have any dental problem.

Dental implants are used to replace your missing teeth. It acts as a root structure of a natural tooth. Dental implant is placed in upper or lower jaw bone. They are usually made up of Titanium. Titanium can fuse very nicely into the bone as osteoblasts can grow on and into rough surface of the implant. After the bone grows around the implant, it is capable of holding a crown, bridge or fixed denture. Dental implants with their custom made crown look and feel and function like your natural teeth.

A dental bridge fills the gap created by one or more missing teeth. Implant secure bridges make you more comfortable as there is no slipping and movement. There are no sore spots, slurred speech or difficulty in chewing.

To make a bridge your dentist has to shape the abutment teeth so that crowns can cover them. A dental lab will prepare two crowns and a pontic in one piece. Your dentist then cements or bonds the bridge to the abutment teeth. The bridge is made of porcelain or lined with metal.

Bridge materials

You have to consider materials that give you maximum strength and good appearance. Also you should see that it is economic and long lasting.

Dental bridges are made of the following materials.

1. Porcelain
2. Combination of metals beneath porcelain
3. Gold formulations varying from 1% to 99%
4. Gold alloy
5. Titanium
   

Fixed bridge

Fixed bridge was the gold standard when you wanted to replace a tooth. It is still an important replacement technique for your tooth. It is fixed to five or more dental implants and can only be removed by a dentist. The crowns of each dental implant are connected to form a single piece.

Advantages

1. They are long lasting and durable
2. It will not come out normally
3. It will feel and look like your original tooth
   

Disadvantage

1. If something happens to any one of the abutment teeth you will have to loose the entire bridge
2. Reshaping a tooth to make it a bridge abutment may require a root canal treatment
3. Replacing a single tooth with a fixed bridge will cost you same as using a dental implant

Partial dental bridge

This dental implant bridge has two crowns for your dental implants on either side of the gap and false tooth in between.

Advantages

1. You can replace only one tooth in case there is any problem. Entire bridge need not be replaced.
2. It is more economic than fixed bridge
   

Disadvantages

1. You have to be very careful as they come out
2. Not very durable in long run

Maryland Bridge

It was very popular during the 1980’s. this bridge attaches a porcelain tooth using metal wings that cover the back of your abutment teeth.

Advantage

1. Dentist has to make very small changes to the shape of abutment teeth
2. Procedure is very quick
3. It is cheaper than the traditional bridge
4. There is no requirement of root canal treatment

Disadvantages

1. Metal wings cause a shadow in the abutment teeth making them appear dark
2. These bridges sometimes debond or come undone after some years.

This article gives you information about dental implant bridges like fixing Bridges, Maryland Bridges, Partial dental bridges and there advantages and disadvantages.

About the Author

Dr. Ken Hurt is a well known dentist and has been in this field since 1995. He is graduated in doctor of dental medicine from London University. His interest lies in cosmetic dentistry, gum and teeth replacement, children dentistry, drug therapy, psychology in dentistry, oral surgery and pathology.

 

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