If you want to replace one or more damaged, decayed or missing teeth, then you have multiple options. One of them is a dental bridge, which creates the appearance of an intact smile by spanning the gap created by missing or removed teeth.
If you receive a dental bridge, that also means you will probably receive at least two crowns. Understanding what crowns are and how they work makes it easier to decide whether a dental bridge is right for you. Let’s give you the royal treatment and start this article off by talking about crowns.
What Is a Crown?
Sometimes a tooth isn’t damaged or decayed badly enough to require total replacement. It may be chipped, cracked or broken, but it still has a functional root and is securely anchored to the jaw.
Dentists commonly treat moderately damaged teeth by fitting them with crowns. Technically, the crown is the natural enamel surface of a tooth. An artificial crown is a cap (usually made of metal, porcelain, ceramic or resin) that partially or completely replaces the surface area of one tooth. In addition to improving its appearance, a crown strengthens and protects the tooth. It can also be used to increase the size of a tooth.
The steps to creating a crown are straightforward. First the dentist removes the damaged areas of the tooth. Next they shave the tooth down until it becomes smaller and more cylindrical. They create an impression (or mold) of the tooth, which they use to create a temporary crown. Its sole purpose is to protect the newly trimmed tooth until a dental laboratory produces the permanent, custom crown, which is finally secured in place with dental cement or glue.
A crown isn’t permanent. With good oral hygiene and regular visits to the dentist, a new crown shouldn’t require replacement for about 15 years. When the time comes to replace a crown, it must be replaced. Because it was shaved down before it was fitted with a crown, the underlying tooth lacks protective enamel and will deteriorate very quickly if it is left exposed. Unless you have already enjoyed a long life in this beautiful world, you can expect to need more than one crown for the same tooth.
We mentioned several functions of a crown just now. We omitted one, because it is central to the point of this article: A crown can be even more useful if it also serves to keep a dental bridge in place.
What Is a Dental Bridge?
A traditional dental bridge is not a dental implant. It is not anchored to a metal post within the jawbone, nor does it penetrate the gumline. A bridge is also not a denture, as it is not removable. A bridge is held in place by the two teeth on either side of a gap (i.e. the “abutment teeth”). Both are outfitted with crowns – or, more specifically, “retainer crowns” – which provide the attachment points the bridge needs in order to span the gap securely.
A dental bridge completely replaces one to four teeth. The replacement teeth themselves are called “pontics” (after pont, the French word for bridge). Pontics are fully functional, and allow their wearer to eat and speak just as they normally would. They are also aesthetically pleasing – precisely what you want if you are self-conscious about missing one or multiple consecutive teeth.
What Types of Dental Bridges Are There?
So far we have only described a traditional dental bridge, which is secured to two abutting retainer crowns. But there are other types of bridges, each of which takes a different approach than the original design.
- Cantilever – a bridge that attaches to a single retainer crown instead of two; better suited for front teeth that supply little chewing force.
- Maryland – a bridge that has wings which are glued to the biting surfaces of abutment teeth; not connected to crowns, and also better suited for front teeth that supply little chewing force.
- Implanted-supported – a bridge that connects to multiple dental implant abutments instead of crowns; immune to cavities.
In summary, if you want to replace one or more damaged, decayed or missing teeth with a dental bridge specifically, you still have multiple options. If you would like to learn whether you are a candidate for a bridge – and which type of bridge is best suited for your unique needs – then we welcome you to contact All About Teeth to schedule an appointment for dental care in Logan, Utah today!
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