Dental Bridges vs. Dentures
Green Bay, WI
Why is it important to replace a missing tooth? Firs, because your remaining teeth are designed to fill spaces in your mouth. When a gap is left by a lost tooth, the rest will often shift into that empty space, which can make them rotate or grow misaligned. Second, this is not only aesthetically unappealing, but can also cause functional issues such as gum disease and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder.
When seeking the most viable option to restore your missing teeth, it can be difficult to choose at times, especially since no two individuals are exactly alike. Other factors like cost, how extensive treatment is, and how much pain or discomfort may be involved must also be accounted for. One such topic brought up among patients considering tooth replacements is comparing dentures to dental bridges.
Which is more effective, lasts longer, etc? At Bay Lakes Center for Complex Dentistry, we strive to give you all of the information you need to narrow down what choices for tooth replacement may best suit your particular case. For any questions you may have or to schedule a visit to discuss your options face-to-face, feel free to call us at (920) 278-7678.
Dental Bridge
As the name implies, an oral bridge spans the entire gap of your missing tooth or teeth to provide a functional and natural appearance. After taking measurements of your mouth, Dr. Hallas will have a mold of artificial teeth custom-made to fit your mouth. The mold is then permanently attached into your mouth on both sides of the missing (abutment) teeth. Often using crowns applied over dental implants or remaining natural teeth as anchors, this forms the structure of the “bridge.”
Why Get a Dental Bridge?
Dental bridges help significantly to both restore and even improve your beautiful smile while keeping your facial structure in its appropriate shape. Apart from helping you speak and chew food, they also let you connect your jaws together properly for an effective bite. This in turn helps prevent your other teeth from growing out of alignment.
Types of Dental Bridges
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Traditional - The most common and popular choice, this bridge is made from a fusion of ceramics or porcelain with metal.
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Cantilever - Similar to the traditional kind, except the pontic (artificial tooth) is supported by an abutment on only one side instead of both. This way, even if only one natural tooth is next to the gap, the bridge can still hold itself together.
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Maryland - Made from a metal framework in which the pontic is applied to metal or porcelain wings which are bonded onto the backs of your two abutment teeth. This type isn't held in position by crowns.
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Implant supported - This is the favored choice for patients missing multiple teeth. Instead of a metal framework or crowns, the bridge is supported by dental implants. Typically, one implant is placed for every lost tooth. Together, they hold the bridge in position. However, it may consist of a pontic suspended between two implant-supported crowns if it proves impossible to give every lost tooth its own implant. |
How Long Do Dental Bridges Last?
The average dental bridge will last at least a decade with adequate oral hygiene, though it can potentially last up to 15 years.
Dentures
As with dental bridges, there are multiple types of dentures to choose from, depending on your case:
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Partial dentures - This is a popular option when you still have remaining natural teeth. Restorations modeled after your real teeth as closely as possible are temporarily attached on top of the natural teeth with a prosthesis. The denture will fill the spaces left by missing teeth and prevent surrounding ones from shifting out of position. You wear this denture during daily activities, then remove it at night before going to bed. While getting used to the feeling of it in your mouth usually takes a couple of weeks, you will adjust to it over time until it feels as natural as your real teeth and restores a proper smile for eating and communication.
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Complete dentures - More expensive on average and often taking longer recovery time, this type fully covers the arch of your missing teeth. Unlike conventional dentures, which are given more time to heal from necessary extractions or replacements of prior dentures, this type can take a couple days to make sure everything is properly lined before you're given the prosthesis for actual use. |
How Long Do Dentures Last?
Even if every tooth is replaced, having artificial teeth doesn't make proper dental hygiene any less necessary. The steps to care for either type of denture are as follows:
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Brush your gums, tongue, and palate every morning with a soft-bristled brush before inserting your denture. This keeps tissue circulation stimulated and helps remove plaque.
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You should rinse your dentures prior to brushing to eliminate any loose food or debris.
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Apply a non-abrasive cleaner when brushing and gently brush the dentures' whole surface to avoid unintentionally scratching them.
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When not wearing your dentures, keep them submerged in water in a safe location to make sure they don't warp.
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Some patients may elect to wear dentures with adhesives. If so, it's important to read all of the directions beforehand to apply this adhesive exactly as the product instructs. |
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GREEN BAY (920) 278-7678
