Dental Bridges
Dental Bridges
The purpose of a bridge is to fill the gap left by a missing tooth or missing teeth. Bridges are made up of crowns attached to the teeth, or implants, on either side of a gap (missing tooth). A false tooth (pontic) is then attached (or “sandwiched”) between these other crowns for stability and permanence.
There are three types of Dental Bridges:
- Traditional Bridges
- Cantilever Bridge
- Maryland Bonded Bridge
Traditional Bridges
Traditional bridges are the most common dental bridge and are made of ceramic or porcelain fused to metal (PFM).
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If there are weak or no surrounding teeth to support the crowns, dental implants can be used to fix the bridge in place.
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Bridges can be placed on virgin teeth or on implants. Bridges can straighten teeth without braces.
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Cantilever Bridge
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A Cantilever Bridge is used when there are teeth on only one side of the gap in the mouth (left X-Ray) or when the patient does not desire to grind down an additional tooth (right X-Ray). Two crowns fused to the replacement tooth are used to fix the bridge to the adjacent natural teeth.
Maryland Bonded Bridge
The Maryland Bonded Bridge is made up of porcelain teeth and gums supported by a metal or porcelain(Encore bridge) framework. The Maryland Bonded Bridge is generally lower in cost than other types of bridges and is the most simple to apply.
Congenital Missing Teeth (click here for more info)
Solutions for Congenital Dental Defects
Missing Incisor Teeth Replacement
Congenitally missing incisor teeth (the pointed teeth sometimes nicknamed “canines”) is a fairly common anomoly within the area of dental defects.
A young patient came to Comfort Dental who had tried conventional orthodontics (braces) in an attempt to move her teeth closer together (see photo). In this case orthodontia could not move tooth mass into the missing incisor area to achieve the desired effect.
For this patient, Comfort Smiles created a specialized treatment plan that included both an Encore Bridge (bridges) as well as dental implants to fill the voids.
The Encore Bridge is constructed with a fiber reinforced polymer framework with a porcelain veneer. The polymer framework (patented unidirectional glass fibers) is completely bondable and therefore does not require invasive preparation of abutment teeth.
The absence of metal eliminates the typical metallic “shine through” associated with Maryland-style bridges.
The cosmetic result exceeded our patient’s expectations. She now has the smile she wanted which will endure for years without the possibility of acquiring the “metallic-look” common with ordinary bridgework.
Comfort Dental provides economical alternatives to even the most standard treatment plans. With today’s advancements in dental technologies and materials, Comfort Dental is able to create plans that meet just about any need related to dental abnormalities for his patients.
If your genes didn’t give you the smile you want…call Comfort Dental today and hear what we can do for you. Call (248)646-2273.
The Comfort Dental Bridge Procedure
Bridge work begins by indentifying the space to be filled, then filing down (grinding down) the adjacent teeth to accommodate the crowns. Then, we take impressions of the teeth, and create the bridge in our on-site laboratory which takes about 10 days. An interim bridge will be temporarily cemented into your mouth to protect your teeth and keep them stable until your final bridge is ready. On your return visit, we permanently and securely cement the bridge over the surrounding teeth to complete your smile with the dental bridge. With proper care, dental bridges can last many decades. We will review proper hygiene techniques with you at each visit, as it normally takes a little extra effort to take care of your new bridge. Floss threaders, WaterPik, and interdental cleaners are always recommended.
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| PFM Bridge (Underside) | Same PFM Bridge (Top Side) |
Same PFM Bridge in mouth |
Stabilizing a bite, reconstructing a bite, or simply improving esthetics…Comfort Dental’s bridges do it all! If you are missing a tooth or teeth, call Comfort Dental today and ask about special offers on bridges
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Cosmetic Bridge Dentistry (click here for more info)
Cosmetic Bridge Dentistry
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Dramatic Smile Transformation
Meet Larry. He had a tough dental problem, as the photo clearly shows. Larry wanted some new teeth to create a smile so gorgeous that he wouldn’t ever want to hide it!
Even working within Larry’s small budget, Comfort Smiles was able to develop a treatment plan that was financially feasible and produced results for Larry.
This particular solution included a 4 unit Bridge plus one crown.
As you can see in the “after” photo above, Larry obtained the results he was looking for. A great looking smile, renewed confidence and improved dental function for a very manageable price. For Larry, it was the best investment he ever made.
Let us show you how Comfort Dental can give you a vibrant, youthful, attractive smile that you deserve!
And with Comfort Dental’s computer imaging you can actually see the possible end-results before any process begins.
Comprehensive Dental Reconstruction (click here for more info)
Comprehensive Dental Reconstruction
Extensive Bridgework with Adjunctive TMJ Treatment
Dealing with Compound Dental Issues
Sometimes Mother Nature is not kind to us. This wonderful, warm-hearted patient complained about her teeth her entire life. Her overbite and years of neglect had caused serious problems to her oral health. She had daily headaches and jaw pain. She knew she needed help so she came to Comfort Dental.
Please look carefull at her Before and After photos. Imagine how good she feels about her teeth now!
First Comfort Dental treated her basic dental needs: gum disease, cavities and infected roots. All of her care was handled by Comfort Dental, right here in our office, minimizing patient expenses and the number of visits.
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Treating TMJ Problems
After the initial dental health stabilizing treatment, a 14 unit fixed bridge was placed on her upper jaw. This bridge provided stability to her weak teeth and give her a strong foundation for treating her Temporomandibular Joint Syndrome(tmj) problems, which are very painful headaches associated with tooth grinding. It was necessary for Comfort Dental to bond together all of her upper teeth in order to provide the required strength and stability. The cosmetic result was very good as you can see in the close-up photos. The teeth are actually made as a one-piece bridge, even though they appear to be ordinary individual teeth.
TMJ STABILIZATION AND OCCLUSAL REHABILITATION
This final TMJ solution was accomplished by fabricating 2 bridges on her lower jaw in order to provide the proper jaw to jaw relationship and eliminate the tmj (tooth grinding) and jaw pain that she had suffered from since childhood. Within 2 months she was completely pain free!
Comfort Dental fabricated the upper jaw work to provide guidance for the lower jaw, which uses the upper jaw as guidance and control for its function. Lack of upper jaw guidance is responsible for a majority of facial pain, including migraines and headaches!
Proper reconstructive work requires in-depth investigation and diagnosis of all jaw and facial components. Comfort Dental’s advanced Neuromuscular program encompasses a variety of techniques required to properly balance dental work with a person’s muscles, jaws, ligaments, nerves, and other structures in order to provide the most harmonious relationship for proper function.
To learn more about the reconstructive benefits of a bridge from Comfort Dental, call (248)646-2273 today. We will turn your “Before” into an “After”!