How a Cosmetic Dentist Uses Dental Bridges

Cosmetic Dentist Santa Barbara, CA

Dental bridges are a common treatment offered by a cosmetic dentist. This is because they can do so much to improve your smile and make you feel confident about yourself. If you have been looking for a cosmetic dentist, be sure to ask them about dental bridges. A cosmetic dentist can do so much with dental bridges. These are the pros of this type of dentistry and these kinds of treatments.

Dental bridges explained

A bridge in dentistry refers to a prosthetic tooth replacement that acts as an artificial substitute for one or more missing teeth. A bridge replaces the function of natural teeth by transferring forces from biting and chewing across its span into adjacent stable foundations such as existing teeth, dental implants, or natural bone structures.

Bridges can be supported over abutments placed on either side of the space where several teeth may have been removed. The surrounding teeth provide abutments for replacing either a single tooth, multiple adjacent teeth (a multi-tooth bridge), or several intermediate spaces in an edentulous area.

Bridge spans can be classified as full-span (complete contact between opposing surfaces), partial span (contact on one side only), and pontic spans, which are the unsupported areas across the space where natural teeth have been lost to decay, fracture, or periodontal disease. A fixed restoration is the ultimate goal.

More about dental bridges

Dental bridges can also provide a functional benefit for patients despite their cosmetic nature if there is enough space to attach replacement teeth onto both sides of the gap. It means that people who have lost one or more permanent teeth due to decay, injury, gum disease—or even those born with missing teeth—can regain their confidence. There is no more worrying about smiling and speaking freely again. The gaps between their other remaining natural teeth have disappeared.

However, dentistry treatments like dental bridges cost significantly more than most standard oral health care services. This may make fixing a cosmetic issue seem less worthwhile than maintaining good basic hygiene, visiting a dentist, and using a toothbrush.

Replacing teeth

Often dentistry treatments like dental bridges can replace one or more missing teeth; sometimes, they are even attached to existing natural teeth to fill the gap created by those that have fallen out (this is known as bridge-on-teeth). 

Bridges over implants are also available for people who do not want to wear removable appliances in their mouths all day long while recovering from cosmetic surgery. This type of treatment uses titanium posts implanted just below the gum line into which replacement teeth can slot into place without any need for additional oral work.

When looking for cosmetic dentist reviews online, make sure to go ahead and contact those listed that offer this type of service. Learn how your smile could benefit from their expertise as a professional cosmetic care professional.

Request an appointment here: https://www.hemingwaydds.com or call Julie A. Hemingway, D.D.S. at (805) 409-2358 for an appointment in our Santa Barbara office.

Check out what others are saying about our dental services on Yelp: Cosmetic Dentist in Santa Barbara, CA.

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