How Long After Losing a Tooth Can You Get a Bridge?
Losing a tooth not only leads to an unattractive smile but can also be detrimental to your oral health. Tooth decay, trauma, and infection are some of the most common causes of tooth loss. Patients with missing teeth tend to have difficulties eating and practicing good oral hygiene. Therefore, it is unsurprising that more people are considering replacing their missing teeth. If you are planning to replace yours with dental bridges, read along to get accustomed to the various types of dental bridges and the required wait time after tooth loss.
What Is a Dental Bridge?
A dental bridge is a device that provides permanent tooth restoration. The device has two dental crowns for fitting on either side of the missing tooth’s socket and dental bridge. Dental bridges are made of porcelain or metal. Those made from porcelain look natural and appealing, while those made from metal such as gold, alloys, and others are stronger and more corrosion resistant.
Dental Bridge Types?
There are several types of dental bridges. Below are a few common examples:
Cantilever Bridge
Cantilever bridges are a lot similar to traditional dental bridges. Dentists usually fit the implants with dental crowns to support the cantilever bridge during fitting. However, unlike conventional fixed dental bridges, this one only needs one tooth since it uses a one-tooth abutment. Before treatment can start, some of your teeth bordering the tooth will have to be prepared. We will remove part of their enamel to create sufficient room for dental bridge placement.
Traditional Fixed Dental Bridge
This is the most popular type of dental bridge used when the patient has at least two teeth left that border the exposed tooth socket on either side. Traditional fixed dental bridges are made up of false teeth supported by dental crowns and cemented to dental abutments. Like cantilever bridges, traditional bridges can only be fitted after dental preparation. Therefore your dentist will start by removing the tooth’s enamel in front and behind the missing tooth’s socket. They may also trim their size to make them smaller and create room for fitting artificial teeth. Unfortunately, enamel removal makes you permanently rely on the bridge to protect your teeth from damage.
Maryland (Resin Bonded) Dental Bridge
You need two healthy natural teeth from either side of the missing tooth’s socket to qualify for a Maryland dental bridge. The dental bridge uses a framework made from metal or porcelain, bonded to the back of abutment teeth. Since resin bonded dental bridges dont use dental crowns, filling won’t be necessaary.
Implant Supported Bridge
Implant-supported bridges are best for restoring several missing teeth. As the name suggests, dont use the implants rely on implants for support and not crowns or frameworks. The implants are placed in series, one implant per tooth until a bridge is formed. However, when getting dental bridges near you, your dentist may use a pontic instead of other implants if surrounding teeth cant be fitted with implants. You will have to undergo multiple surgeries before completing treatment. Recovery thus takes longer than other types of dental bridges.
Why Do I Need a Dental Bridge?
People with missing teeth enjoy a lot of benefits after getting dental bridges in Bayport. Here are a few reasons why you should get a dental bridge to replace your missing teeth:
Smile Restoration
Restoring a missing is crucial to maintaining an attractive smile. A missing tooth can cause you to miss out on many opportunities and fun experiences. You may feel embarrassed to laugh or smile in public due to your dental flaws. With time you may lose confidence and miss out on a lot of things. A dental bridge can give you a natural-looking fake tooth to serve as a tooth replacement, therefore, restoring your smile.
Makes Chewing Easier
Eating may seem simple, but that is often not the case when you have a missing tooth. The void left by a missing tooth makes chewing more challenging since food particles can easily find their way into the gap of the missing tooth’s socket. Your other teeth may also wear faster as you may prefer to chew with the side with all teeth still intact. Dental bridge restoration will provide you with the strength and functionality of a natural tooth, thus making chewing easier.
Prevent Bone Loss
Losing a tooth can cause the gums to stop releasing nutrients that help preserve the jawbone. As a result, the jawbone may weaken, making you look older than your actual age due to facial skin sagging. You can prevent that from happening by getting dental bridges as they stimulate the gum to release nutrients.
How Long Do I Need to Wait After Tooth loss Before Getting a Dental Bridge?
Losing a tooth causes pain and swelling. If you plan to restore the missing tooth afterward, you should wait until the wound has fully healed and the swelling has subsided. That may take about 8-12 weeks to happen, so you will need to be patient.
Conclusion
Tooth loss can happen due to various reasons leaving you to deal with the effects of tooth loss. Fortunately, a dental bridge can put an end to the impact of tooth loss by serving as a permanent tooth replacement option. However, you will have to give time for your wound to heal before you proceed to get dental bridge restoration. If you are unsure whether you are ready for bridge restoration, visit Bayport Dental Care for consultation. We will check if your wound is fully healed and advise accordingly.