Tooth loss can significantly alter your life. For example, you may have to modify your diet. And, you may even find that you have to adjust the way you speak and smile. But, with high-quality restorative solutions (like a custom-made dental bridge), you can repair your smile and reclaim your life.
At Metropolitan Dental Care located in Denver, CO, we proudly help patients address tooth loss with top-tier treatments and prosthetics. If you’re ready to see how we can repair your smile, then contact our friendly team online here or by calling (303) 534-2626.
Meanwhile, let our team of experts answer some of your questions about dental bridges. Here, we address what dental bridges are, how long they last, and much, much more!
What is a dental bridge?
A dental bridge (also called a tooth bridge) replaces one or more missing teeth in a row with false teeth. These false teeth hold their position in the mouth by using neighboring teeth for support.
There are four types of tooth bridges:
- Traditional: Our dentists use tooth-shaped dental crowns on surrounding teeth to permanently cement the bridge into place.
- Cantilever: Similar to traditional bridges, cantilever bridges use dental crowns on neighboring teeth for security. The main difference, however, is that cantilever bridges only need one neighboring tooth for support.
- Maryland: Rather than using dental crowns, Maryland bridges use metal and dental ceramic to secure the appliance to the backs of neighboring teeth.
- Implant-supported: These bridges use surgically embedded dental implants (which have an astounding success rate of nearly 98%) to keep the appliance securely in place.
How long do tooth bridges last?
On average, tooth bridges last for approximately seven years. However, there are plenty of things that patients can do to increase the lifespan of their dental bridges, such as:
- Brushing after meals and snacks (or at least twice a day) with a soft-bristled toothbrush
- Flossing every day, including under the tooth bridge
- Limiting damaging behavior, like chewing on ice or opening packaging with the teeth
- Reducing sugary and acidic foods and drinks
- Visiting a Denver dentist at least once a year for a routine exam and dental cleaning
What are the disadvantages of a dental bridge?
There are very few disadvantages of a tooth bridge. However, some do exist, such as:
- Traditional and cantilever bridges alter the shape of neighboring teeth to support the bridge.
- Oral hygiene requires a little more effort (e.g. using special floss threaders to floss underneath a tooth bridge).
- Only implant-supported bridges prevent jaw bone loss.
How much is a dental bridge?
Many factors influence the cost of a tooth bridge, such as:
- The type of bridge used
- The number of teeth being replaced
- The dentist’s location
- The patient’s insurance coverage.
However, data suggest that most patients can expect tooth bridges to run them between $250 to $12,000.
Is a dental bridge painful?
The procedure for placing tooth bridges is pain-free, as our compassionate dentists ensure patients’ comfort with local anesthesia and soothing sedative options.
Nevertheless, it is normal for patients to experience some soreness after getting their tooth bridges. This discomfort should subside after 48 to 72 hours. If it does not, contact our Denver dental office immediately.
Schedule a Tooth Bridge Consultation Today
If you’ve been living with tooth loss, then it’s time to see how the team at Metropolitan Dental Care can help. Schedule your dental bridge consultation today by submitting a request here or by calling (303) 534-2626.
