Dental Bridges in Portland, OR

Dental bridges are appropriately named so because they help bridge gaps between two teeth. A dental bridge is generally made to fill in the space of the missing teeth so that it looks as though all of your teeth are intact and healthy. A bridge is made up of two crowns, one on either side of the gap where the missing tooth is situated. These crowns, also referred to as abutment teeth, are used to support the bridge. An artificial tooth is known as a pontic and lie between these abutments. The pontics can be made out of various materials such as porcelain, gold, alloys, or a combination of different kinds of materials. Typically most of the bridges are made from porcelain to blend in with your natural teeth aesthetically.

What are the different varieties of Dental Bridges?

• Traditional Bridges:These bridges include two crowns on both sides of the missing tooth with a pontic between the crowns. This is the most regular type of bridge preferred by many and is typically fabricated out of porcelain fused to metal or ceramics.
• Cantilever Bridges: This is a choice of bridge used when it is impossible to secure the bridge to a natural tooth on either side of a gap. These bridges are most appropriate in situations where there is only one anchor tooth on one side of the gap. 
• Maryland Bonded Bridges:They are also called resin-bonded bridges or just a Maryland bridge. They are generally made from an assortment of metals, including porcelain, porcelain fused to metal, or even plastic with a metal and porcelain framework.
• Implant-supported dental bridge:As the name suggests, implant-supported bridges use dental implants instead of crowns or frameworks. Normally, one implant is surgically inserted for every missing tooth, and these implants hold the bridge in position. It is regarded to be the strongest and most durable system. An implant-supported bridge generally involves two surgeries, one to insert the implants in the jawbone and a second surgery to fix the bridge.

What are the steps included in getting a Dental Bridge fixed?

There are multiple steps involved in the process of fixing a dental bridge. During the first appointment, the patient's abutment teeth are prepared and filed. For this purpose, some of the enamel is removed from them so that a crown can be secured over the top of their surface. Once this is done, an impression is taken of the teeth, and a model is created. With the help of this model, the bridge and the crowns and pontic are fabricated at the dental lab.

After the first preparation visit, the dentist will make a temporary bridge for you to wear until it's time for your next dental visit. This bridge will help protect the exposed teeth and gums while the new bridge is being made at the lab. At the time of the second visit, the temporary bridge will be removed, and the new bridge will be fitted in the mouth after making sure they fit correctly in the mouth. They are also checked for a natural bite. Fixed bridges are usually cemented in place for two weeks to decide whether they fit properly or not. After the initial testing period, the bridge is then permanently fixed in place.

Call us at Wayne H Mori Dental or schedule an online appointment to know more about Bridges