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Fixed Bridges: Keep Things In Line & Look Fine
If you’ve lost teeth due to accidents, injury, or gum disease, we can create a special permanent 'bridge' appliance to replace the missing teeth. Not only does a bridge fill the missing teeth space, thereby preventing repositioning of remaining teeth, but it also corrects an altered bite, improves chewing ability and speech articulation, and supports facial structures to preserve your normal appearance. The term ‘fixed’ bridge simply means one that is permanently joined onto the neighboring 'abutment' teeth on either side of the toothless area.
Most bridges consist of three basic units: the false tooth or teeth (called a pontic) and two crowns attached permanently to the abutment teeth. If you’re only missing front teeth, while your neighboring abutment teeth are healthy, we might determine that a resin-bonded or "Maryland" bridge is your best and most economical choice. In such cases, we simply bond metal bands to the abutment teeth where they’ll be hidden from view, then fuse the pontic to those bands. This style bridge is very conservative, reducing the amount of preparation required for your adjacent teeth.
On the other hand, if you only have teeth left on one side of the span, we might have to anchor the pontic to one side over one or more natural, adjacent teeth. This arrangement is called a "cantilever" bridge. Or, if you have no adjacent 'anchor' teeth available at all, Dr. Coker may recommend a surgically implanted metal post or 'implant'. And finally, if your span of missing teeth is quite considerable, we may recommend a removable partial denture or implant-supported prosthesis instead.
Bridge placement and fitting is a fairly simple three step process: reduction of the abutment teeth required for anchoring; taking an impression for use in designing the metal framework and pontic, and fitting the finished bridge onto your teeth. Typically, the entire process takes around two to four weeks, depending on the style of bridge we’ve recommended. A little extra time is occasionally required to precisely match the bridge’s color shade to that of your natural teeth.
Implants: Build a Solid Foundation
Sometimes, people lose permanent teeth due to accident, injury, disease or extraction. In such cases, we find dental implants to be a secure, functional replacement option. They're superior to many other replacement choices because they actually restore comfort and beauty, while also remaining functional for the long run. What's more, they do not rely on neighboring teeth for support, and therefore do not represent a threat to the integrity of your overall dental structural health. Sometimes, Dr. Coker will recommend implants as anchors for bridgework or fixed dentures as well.
Since they are permanently, surgically anchored to the jawbone, implants offer impressive advantages over other tooth replacement options. Their stability and permanence allows them to restore, not limit, your ability to speak and eat normally. Also, their firm positioning supplies support to facial musculature, improving rather than detracting from your normal appearance. And this solid foundation means that once they're implanted, you'll never have to deal with the inconveniences and discomfort of ill-fitting prostheses again. In fact, you'll probably forget they're even there.
Permanent Posts
The implant itself consists of a small titanium post, inserted into the jawbone below the gum surface at the location of the missing tooth. As the bone bonds to the post, it forms a secure foundation onto which artificial teeth are attached and shaped to match your existing teeth. Your restoration will most likely be a simple crown. For two or more missing teeth, you'll probably require permanent fixed bridgework. And, if we're replacing a complete set of upper or lower teeth, we'll evaluate the advantages of removable vs. fixed prosthesis, which in turn determines how many implants per jaw are required.
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