Dental Bridges in Whittier
Restore your beautiful smile, ability to eat and prevent your teeth from shifting, at Perfect Smile Dental Group in Whittier.
Benefits of Dental Bridges
- Saves your natural smile.
- Replace your missing teeth.
- Maintain your face’s Natural shape.
- Improve confidence by being able to smile, chew and speak properly.
- Prevent your adjacent teeth from shifting that creates problems in your bite.
Source: American Dental Association (ADA)
What are Advantages of Dental Bridges?
- Less expensive than dental implants.
- Requires fewer trips to the dentist (2 visits)
- Does not require surgery.
- Less invasive than dental implants.
- Look and feel more esthetic and realistic than dentures.
What are Disadvantages of Dental Bridges?
- Healthy neighboring teeth may need to be shaved to accommodate Dental Bridge.
- Cavities on a supporting tooth of the bridge causes entire bridge to be compromised.
- Inconvenience of flossing under bridge with Floss threader/Super Floss.
- Does not last as long as a dental implant.
Types of Dental Bridges
Full Metal Bridges
Full Metal bridges are made from pure gold, alloys of gold, platinum, chromium, nickel, palladium, or base metals. Full Metal bridges made from metal alloys are known for their great strength and durability but lack esthetics due to the metallic color. As a result, full metal bridges are often recommended for posterior teeth (premolars & molars) where esthetics is not a concern. Full metal bridges are stronger and more resistant to fracture than porcelain fused to metal bridges. Full Metal bridges can last for 15-20 years in patients with good oral hygiene. The advantage of Full Metal bridges is its high strength and durability. Full Metal bridges are the strongest and most resistant to chipping, breaking, and wear. For bruxism patients that clench and grind their teeth, Full Metal bridges and zirconia crowns are often recommended. Full Metal bridges are not commonly used in dentistry today, porcelain fused to metal bridges (PFM) are preferred instead.
Porcelain Fused to Metal Bridges (PFM Bridges)
Porcelain fused to metal bridges (PFM) are metal bridges with a very thin layer of porcelain fused to the metal that mimics the natural tooth color. PFM bridges are strong due to its strong metal core on the inside but is esthetic due to the lustering layer of porcelain. Porcelain fused to metal bridges are preferred over full metal bridges when esthetics is a concern. Unlike full metal bridges, PFM bridges can be used on front teeth where esthetic is important. Advantage of Porcelain fused to metal bridges (PFM) is that they are as strong as full metal cast bridges but look more esthetics. Disadvantages of Porcelain fused to metal bridges (PFM) is that in patients with receding gum, the gray metal core appears as a black line near the gum line. With PFM bridges, the porcelain layer is the weak link that tends to crack, chip, or break off when patient bite into hard foods/objects. Because the Porcelain layer on PFM bridges is abrasive and tends to wear out the opposing teeth eventually. For front tooth restorations, porcelain fused to metal (PFM) or all-porcelain bridges are recommended. PFM bridges are not recommended for patients that grind their teeth because the porcelain layer tends to break off.
Disadvantages of PFM Bridges
Black line at Gum line
Crack/Broken Porcelain
Zirconia Bridges (Bruxzir)
Zirconia dental bridges are made from zirconium dioxide, an extremely hard white powdered crystal ceramic material. Zirconia bridges are extremely durable, translucent, metal-free, biocompatible and bond well with your teeth. Zirconia bridges are the strongest bridges that are ideal for patients that grind their teeth. Zirconia bridges are stronger than PFM bridges and more esthetics due to the lack of a metal core. There are also no concerns of a gray line at the gum line in patients with receding gum.
Advantages of Zirconia Bridges
Full-contour zirconia bridges (Monolithic Zirconium bridges) has the flexural strength of 1200 MPa. Zirconia bridges are the strongest bridges that look like natural teeth. Since there is no metal, patients with metal allergies are not affected. Because there is no porcelain layer, Bruxing (grinding) patients do not have to fear breaking the porcelain.
Disadvantages of Zirconia Bridges
Zirconia bridges are harder than enamel and can cause wearing of opposing natural teeth.
Lithium disilicate (eMax) Bridges
eMax Bridges are made from the aesthetic dental ceramic material Lithium disilicate. eMax bridges and eMax veneers have the strength of a full metal crown and an esthetic translucency greater than porcelain. eMax bridges can withstand 400 MPa of force. Because of its high translucency, eMax bridges are usually placed for front teeth where esthetic is the most important. When looking to create the most natural and esthetic beautiful smile, eMax bridges are the ideal options in cosmetic dentistry.
Dental Bridges Home Care
To ensure your dental bridges last 10-15 years, schedule routine dental cleaning and dental checkup to maintain good oral hygiene and to detect early signs of dental decay that could compromise your dental bridges. In additional to visiting your dentist, it is important to keep good oral hygiene at home with daily flossing of your teeth and dental bridges. Flossing dental bridges can be made easy with Superfloss. Simply insert the superfloss underneath the dental bridge at the missing tooth area and pull the superfloss halfway through to swipe side to side to clean under your dental bridges.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a dental bridge?
A dental bridge is a dental treatment used to replace one or more missing teeth. The bridge is cemented to adjacent natural teeth.
How is a dental bridge different from a dental implant?
A dental bridge relies on adjacent teeth for support to replace a single or multiple missing teeth. Dental bridge can be done in 2 visits and does not involve oral surgery. Dental bridge cannot be flossed like natural teeth. Dental bridge must be cleaned using Superfloss or Floss threader.
A dental implant is usually a Titanium screw placed in the jawbone to replace a single or multiple missing teeth. Dental implant involves oral surgery to place the implant. Dental implant can be cleaned & flossed like your natural teeth.
How much does a dental bridge cost?
Dental bridge cost can vary depending on the number of teeth involved, the material used and the geographical location. Most dental insurance plans provide coverage for dental bridge. How much is covered depends on your insurance plan you purchased.
How does a bridge last?
Dental Bridge can last between 10 to 15 years. Good oral hygiene and routine dental check-ups can extend their longevity.
Which type of bridge is recommended?
Which type of bridge is recommended depends on the location of the bridge and the patient’s needs. Is esthetic important? Do you grind your teeth?
Full Metal Cast Bridges provide strength and durability, but due to the gray metal core they do not like natural teeth. Full Metal Cast Crowns are not recommended for front teeth.
Porcelain Fused to metal Bridges (PFM) provide strength and greater esthetics compared to Full metal cast bridges. PFM bridges have 2 disadvantages: In patients with receding gum, the metal core show as black line at the gum line. The porcelain layer on the metal core often breaks in patients that grind their teeth or chew on hard foods/objects.
Zirconia Bridges (Bruxzir) provide the highest strength, durability and great esthetic. Since there is no metal core and no porcelain, there are no concerns with black line at the gum nor breaking of the porcelain. They can be placed on front teeth or back teeth. Zirconia bridges are ideal for grinding patients.
eMax Bridges provide the highest esthetic and great strength. eMax bridges are the most natural and beautiful bridges and are perfect for front teeth. eMax bridges are ideal if esthetic is the most important to you.
Is it painful to get a bridge?
Modern dentistry has made the process of getting a bridge painless. Local anesthesia is used to numb the area to ensure that you feel no pain during the procedure. Some mild sensitivity or discomfort after the procedure is normal, but it’s usually minor and temporary.
Does a bridge require a root canal?
A bridge does not require a root canal. Bridges are often placed after extraction of a single tooth or multiple consecutive teeth to replace the missing teeth and to restore your smile and ability to eat effectively.
Alternative treatment option to dental bridge are dental implants.
How long do bridges take?
Getting a dental bridge involves two visits to the dentist. At first visit, prepare the teeth, take impressions and place a temporary bridge. At second visit, cement your permanent bridge. Getting a dental bridge usually takes two weeks.
How long do you have to wait to eat after a bridge?
After getting a bridge, you can eat as soon as the anesthesia wears off. With a temporary bridge, avoid any sticky or hard foods as this can dislodge or break the temporary bridge. Once your permanent bridge is cemented, you can return to your normal eating habits.
Do dental bridges require special care?
Dental bridge cannot be flossed like natural teeth. Dental bridge must be cleaned by using Superfloss or Floss threader.
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