Dental Bridges in North York

Dental Bridges in North York- Missing Teeth - Dublin Heights Dental Office

Having an empty space in your smile due to a missing tooth is not only aesthetically unfavorable, it can also affect your ability to chew and speak. If untreated, the outcome of a missing tooth can lead to eventual migration of the other teeth, tooth misalignment or malocclusion, gum disease or tooth decay. One option for tooth replacement is a dental bridge. The ideal treatment option if possible would be a dental implant at our North York dental clinic.

How a Dental Bridge Replaces a Missing Tooth

A dental bridge is created by creating anchors from the two teeth on the sides of the empty space. These "abutment" teeth are fitted with dental crowns and a replacement tooth (called a pontic) is attached to the dental crowns. The dental crowns and dental bridge unit is custom fabricated in a laboratory setting to precisely fit the client's own unique dental situation. A dental bridge can be made to replace one or more teeth in a client's smile.

The pontics can be created in a variety of materials, including porcelain, ceramic, metal or a combination of materials, depending on the type and location of the dental bridge.

Types of Dental Bridges

There are three types of dental bridges:

  • Traditional: used when the client has a viable tooth on each side of the empty space which is suitable to receive the dental crown
  • Cantilever: used when the client has only one tooth near the empty space
  • Maryland bonded or resin bonded: plastic or porcelain replacement teeth that are bonded to a metal framework that has metal wings or enforced resin on each side that are cemented to the back of existing teeth

 

Advantages of Dental Bridges

Dental bridges are used with success for many individuals. They solve many of the problems associated with having a missing tooth, as noted above, and the porcelain options can look very natural in a client's smile. The process for implementing a dental bridge into a client's smile is relatively quick and can generally be completed in two office visits.

Disadvantages of Dental Bridges

The main drawback of dental bridges is the fact that they require existing, healthy teeth to support them in the traditional and cantilever methods. By using these teeth as an anchor, they are more susceptible to later tooth damage or decay.

While the Maryland bonded dental bridges do not rely on adjacent teeth for support, they are not as strong as the other types and are not recommended for back teeth restorations.

Alternative to Dental Bridges

Dental implants are Dr. Dan Haas' preferred method of tooth replacement. This is a more conservative approach that gives the client an artificial tooth root on which to place the replacement tooth. The neighbouring teeth do not support dental implants and hence they do not need to be altered. The ultimate result is a natural looking and feeling, highly durable replacement tooth.

If you have a gap in your smile and would like to discuss the options of dental bridges or dental implants with general cosmetic dentist Dr. Dan Haas, please contact Haas Dental Centre today for a dental evaluation.

HAAS DENTAL CENTRE'S
HOME PAGE
  DENTAL SERVICES
IN NORTH YORK
HAAS DENTAL CENTRE'S
DENTAL TEAM
NORTH YORK
DENTAL OFFICE
  CONTACT OUR DENTAL OFFICE