The official statistics are quite disturbing! According to the National Institute of Dental Research, almost one third of American adults are missing one or more of their natural teeth and nearly 4% of Americans are missing all their teeth!

If you have one or several missing teeth, you better plan a tooth replacement procedure, as soon as possible. Replacing missing teeth not only helps restoring your smile, but can also prevent health issues, like gum disease or jaw bone loss.

A good restorative alternative that your Burien dentist might recommend for you is a dental bridge treatment.

What is a Dental bridge?

A dental bridge is a common dental solution for replacing one or more missing teeth by bridging the gap, created by missing teeth. A dental bridge is made up of two or more crowns, placed on the teeth on either side of the gap and an artificial tooth in between.

Depending on the way they anchor to the adjacent teeth, dental bridges could be:

• Traditional bridges

This type of bridges consists of two abutment teeth and one or more artificial teeth, placed in between them. Those bridges are the most common types of dental bridges and are usually made of ceramic or porcelain, fused to metal.

• Cantilever bridges

Sometimes natural teeth are only present on one side of a missing tooth, in which case dentists may fit cantilever bridges. Cantilever bridges are similar to traditional bridges, but are attached on just one side.

• Maryland bridges

Maryland bridges, also known as resin-bonded bridges, are usually recommended for replacing lost teeth at the front of the mouth. In this restoration, the artificial teeth are fused to metal bands, which are then fixed to the abutment teeth with resin cement.

Consult your Burien dentist to choose the best bridge solution for your individual needs.

Steps in dental bridge treatment

What are the benefits of a dental bridge?

The main benefits of dental bridges include:

• Prevention of gum disease and joint disorders
• Prevention of adjacent teeth from shifting or rotating
• Allowing you to dine and speak properly
• Restoration of the aesthetics of your smile and better self-confidence

If you are missing any of your teeth, you should consult a professional Burien dentist, like Dr. Lee from Burien Family Dental Care to get your smile restored. Call us today to find our more!