Fixed Bridges
A Dental Bridge or commonly called a “Fixed Bridge,” is a custom-made replacement artificial tooth or teeth that fill up space where one or more teeth are missing. They are classified as a Fixed Prosthesis.
Dental Bridges link the gap created by the absence of one or more teeth, especially if you prefer to have the non-removable type of teeth replacement options. Fixed Bridges are consist of two or more dental crowns for the teeth on both sides of the gap. The two or more anchoring teeth are labeled as the “abutment teeth.” And a false tooth or teeth in-between is called the “pontic.” The pontic replaces the missing tooth, held by one or more crowns on both ends. We need to prepare the support teeth to make it possible for a Fixed Bridge to be custom-fitted comfortably.
A special cement (luting cement) secures Fixed Bridges, and only a dentist can remove them. This will give you a comfortable and secure feeling, and they would feel very similar to your natural teeth. In effect, they are firmly fastened, beyond compare to a removable denture.
Benefits of Having a Dental Bridge?
- Returns back your complete smile
- Brings back your chewing and speaking capability, affected by missing teeth
- Helps retain the shape of your face
- Distributes proper biting function as they replaced the missing teeth
- Prevents drifting of remaining teeth out of position
Why Should You Select a Dental Bridge?
A missing tooth is of paramount concern. Teeth are made to function together to help you chew, speak and smile. When you have one or more teeth removed, the nearby teeth may shift and become crooked. This may make it difficult to talk or chew properly. A lost tooth in the lower jaw may cause a tooth in your upper jaw to move down into that vacant space — meaning your teeth will no longer be even or in a straight line. This can disturb your bite and put more stress on your other teeth and jaw joints, possibly causing damage and pain. Teeth that have drifted or tipped are also harder to clean. This can predispose your tooth decay and gum disease risk or even losing more teeth in the future.
Missing teeth can result in jawbone loss, which can cause adjacent teeth to separate away and lead to facial collapse. If that happens, it may alter the way the jawbone supports the lips and cheeks. Later on, this can make your face look older.
Fixed Bridges are a much better solution to Removable Dentures because they are practically cemented in place. You save from the inconvenience of removing them now and then. By having a Fixed Bridge, you won’t be embarrassed by the occasional slipping of Removable Dentures popping out of position. Since the support teeth are covered with a crown, they won’t be affected by future dental decay, as does removable counterpart. Lastly, they can be made more natural, and we can complete the size and form matching the natural teeth.
How Do We Do Fixed Bridge at Smile More Dental Clinic, Manila?
For the following discussion, let’s assume that we are doing a Porcelain Fused to Metal type of Dental Bridges:
1.) We will start with a detailed checkup of your existing natural teeth to support the Fixed Bridge. X-rays are required to enable us to examine the underlying teeth and gums structure. Let’s say we won’t need other dental treatment on the involved tooth or teeth (for example, Root Canal Treatment or Tooth Extraction); we can proceed at once. We will then discuss what type of material you would like to receive. This material will have a bearing on the longevity, gum reception or tolerance (whether gum friendly), resilience, and esthetic appearance of the Fixed Bridges.
2.) We will take an impression for a “study cast,” which will serve as a guide or initial copy of your entire teeth. It will help us study for the bite, teeth relation, and planned improvement that we are about to do.
3.) We will check the shade that is suitable for your existing teeth. If there are neighboring teeth that need regard to achieve color or shade evenness, we will consider that. But suppose it is an entire arch (upper or lower), we can decide for a particular shade not away from the color of opposing visible teeth or artificial restoration.
4.) We will put to numb the teeth to be prepared using local anesthesia for your ease and convenience. It should be enough to manage the discomfort of doing the process.
6.) After we prepared the teeth, we will pack a gingival retraction cord — a string that will help stop the bleeding and ensure that the entire teeth get recorded when the teeth mold or impression is taken.
7.) We will use a rubber impression material, a rigid imprint material used for taking an accurate mold, intended for Fixed Bridge fabrication purposes. Then we will get your correct bite registered on yellow wax for the dental technician to have an idea of your relative bite or occlusion.
8.) We then fabricate a Temporary Fixed Bridge that will serve as transitory teeth cover and support. The patient can leave the clinic with something to wear on their mouth until the next appointment for the try-in of the dental bridge. This temporary is made of plastic material and can be used for eating. Temporaries do not look as lovely as the permanent ones, but that should be okay for few days or even a week of use.
10.) Upon the patient’s return on the next visit (after few days), we will remove the Temporary Bridge. This time, we will do the try-in of the unglazed Fixed Bridge. At this point, we will correct the bite, check the adjacent and opposing teeth relation, the resulting shade, the enhancement and refinements required, and other corrections necessary. You should be able to assert this time any concern you want to be done, have any thoughts, and notice something you want to change. Because when we send them back to the laboratory, we will note every possible change and correction needed — before they have them glazed (or shiny finished under the oven).
11.) Installation of the Fixed Bridge. We will use permanent luting cement to put the finished dental bridge in place. Usually, we use a reliable brand of dental cement to secure them in place.
Why Choose Smile More Dental Clinic to Do These treatments For You?
We have completed hundreds of successful Fixed Bridge treatments on our patients. Most of them can attest to the functionality and aesthetic value of getting them done here. Having a long-term Fixed Bridge depends on how the teeth are prepared and the correct mechanics. The type of materials employed during the process can impact the outcome of the process. Most importantly, the anchor teeth put inside the Fixed Bridge should be sealed perfectly and ensure that they are not decayed, damaged, or diseased. We do not cut corners on the materials and techniques involved because we care a lot about the welfare of our patients. When you are deciding on Fixed Bridgeworks, go to a reputable clinic. Let the quote “The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten,” said by the late Benjamin Franklin be your guiding influence. We encourage you to invest practical and wise when it concerns your teeth and your health. Our seasoned dentist at Smile More Dental Clinic in Ermita, Manila, has the experience to assure patients that they have come to the right place.
Types of Fixed Bridges Materials:
1.) Porcelain Fused to Ordinary Metal (PFM) — the cheapest one. Composed of an outer porcelain material with an inner core made of ordinary metal. Gums sometimes react unfavorably to the less pure metal alloy. Regular Metal types are expected to corrode and to be replaced once there is evident receding of gums. For a few years, this type can be used without issue, only if the patient can maintain it properly by good hygiene and home care routine. Its drawback is that they cause the gum line to become darker (grayish effect) due to the inner metal reflection. They are priced per unit or number of teeth or overall teeth included on the dental bridge.
2.) Porcelain Fused to Semi-Precious (Tilite) Metal — the middle category. The price is mid-range. The outer coating is made of porcelain material. The inner metal core is composed of “Tilite” metal, known to be more compatible with gums and human tissues than ordinary metal; thus, safer to use. Tilite also helps eliminate gum disease-causing bacteria by 90%, closer to the natural tooth structure. Considered to be medically pure material, they are durable, resilient to chewing forces, and lightweight. Due to the discussed advantage, they last longer or almost double the longevity period as does ordinary counterpart. Also, they are priced per unit or the number of teeth combined on the dental bridge.
3.) Zirconia Fixed Bridge — This Fixed Bridge material is getting popular from the dental bridges we offer at Smile More Dental Clinic in Ermita Manila. Since Zirconia has NO metal core (inner metal), the translucent (luminous) effect is similar to regular teeth. Zirconia presents a flawless and genuinely natural-looking result! They also provide a better gum reception due to their biocompatibility (gum-friendly). Because they have no metal component, no issues of corrosion can be attributed to them. We always endeavor to offer the newest and unsurpassed quality material to help transform your life for the better, so we highly endorse Zirconia material for crowns and fixed bridges. Though this may seem more costly than the other Fixed Bridges, Zirconia strikes a balance between aesthetics and durable qualities — that will help serve you for a much longer time. If you choose a Zirconia Bridge, you can look forward to many years of confidence when eating, speaking, and smiling. The same applies to the costings: per unit or number of teeth involved for Fixed Bridges.
Important:
Please be informed not to count only the missing number of teeth when implying the total cost for a fixed bridge, regardless of the material you have selected.
Fixed Bridges are priced per number of teeth to be restored, including the support teeth and the missing teeth.
Other parts of the process also require costings, like the x-rays, fillings, build-up material for decayed or damaged teeth, temporaries, and other procedural requirements to come up with the entire costings.
Do not worry since we will discuss the cost of your specific case before we dive into the actual procedure.