If you’re one of the many people who are currently dealing with missing teeth, then now is the best time to be alive. That might sound a bit odd, but it’s because there are so many long-lasting and natural-looking replacement options available to you. One of the most commonly used is a dental bridge, a prosthetic that dentists around the country have used to literally complete millions of smiles. There are actually two distinct types of bridges: traditional and those with dental implants. Which one would be right for you? It really depends! Read on to learn which dental bridge in Schenectady could be exactly what your smile needs.
Dental Bridge Basics
A dental bridge is a specific kind of dental prosthetic that is designed to replace one or more missing teeth in a row. With one, our own Dr. Erin Page can fully restore the appearance and functionality of a patient’s smile. When teeth go missing, the ones that surround it can start to slowly drift into the open space, leading to bite alignment problems and tooth wear that can lead to even more issues. Bridges, thankfully, can prevent all of this from happening, while at the same time, giving a patient a full, confident smile.
The Types of Bridges We Offer
- Traditional Bridge: For this, crowns are placed on either side of the gap in a patient’s smile, and these are used to hold a prosthetic tooth (or teeth) in place to close it. The surrounding teeth need to be slightly reshaped to do this, but the end result is very natural-looking.
- Implant-Retained Bridge: If a patient doesn’t have enough healthy dental structure to get a traditional bridge, they may instead opt for an implant-retained one. Here, dental implants topped with crowns are placed near the missing one, and these are used to support the replacement tooth. Because of the use of dental implants, patients are able to enjoy a number of unique benefits, including an extremely secure fit and how they help maintain the jawbone in the area.
Which One is Best For You?
So a bridge sounds like exactly what you need…which type is right for you? It really depends on your particular situation. At Capital Smiles, we work hard to provide every patient with solutions that are perfectly suited to them. When recommending which type of bridge a patient should consider, we will look at a few important factors, including their oral and overall health, the bone density of their jaw, their budgetary concerns, as well as their long-term goals.
For example, if a patient has an ongoing dental or overall health problem (such as gum disease or uncontrolled diabetes), then they would not be a good candidate for an implant-retained bridge, as these conditions would affect implant placement. Jawbone density is a big factor as well, as an implant bridge needs a strong and thick jawbone to stay firmly in place. If a patient has a thin jawbone or doesn’t want to undergo surgery to get implants, we’ll be happy to give them a traditional bridge.
As always, the best person to help you answer this question is a dentist in Schenectady, and if you’re looking to replace any number of missing teeth, then you can be in no better hands than with the team here at Capital Smiles. We’ll go over all of your options and give you all the information you need so you can decide how you want to rebuild your smile with confidence.
To learn more about dental bridges, dental implants, or to schedule a consultation to see which solution is best for you, contact us today.