Benefits and Risks of Dental Bridges
Many treatments are available for badly damaged or decayed teeth. Unfortunately, a tooth can sometimes be damaged beyond repair, leaving an unsightly gap in your smile. Not only can that impact your confidence and self-esteem, but it can even negatively impact the functionality of your other teeth and mouth. This is because your remaining teeth will shift after time, causing misalignment and a range of other associated dental problems.
Dental bridges work to fill this gap by replacing your missing teeth with a prosthetic one, which looks and feels just like the real thing. The false tooth holds the remaining teeth on either side in place to prevent them from shifting into the space.
Before you rush into your doctor’s office to ask for a dental bridge, you need to make some considerations. Let’s take a look at the benefits and risks of dental bridges.
Benefits Of Dental Bridges
There are many benefits to having a dental bridge fitted. Your dentist will probably recommend a dental bridge to:
- Prevent your remaining teeth from shifting position and causing misalignment and related problems
- Help you bite or chew properly
- Correct your bite
- Properly align your jaw
- Maintain the shape of your face
- Give you a great smile that boosts your confidence and self-esteem
Risks Of Dental Bridges
Very few risks are associated with being fitted with a dental bridge. Like any procedure that involves your gum, there’s a slight chance of inflammation or gum infection, but these are rare. In occasional cases, a patient may react to one or more of the materials used to create the bridge. Still, your dentist will discuss with you beforehand any allergies you may have.
It’s worth noting that a patient must have two natural, healthy teeth in place on either side of the gap to get a dental bridge. This is because it needs to be anchored to them to stay in place. If you don’t have these teeth, your dentist may recommend a different course of treatment.
Is There an Alternative to a Dental Bridge?
If a bridge is not suitable for you, then your dentist may recommend dental implants instead. However, you should consult with your doctor, who can make the best recommendation based on your personal dental needs. Give us a call today if you have any other questions about dental bridges!
