Dental Bridges Benefits and Risks

Many older dental patients have lost some of their teeth because dental care wasn't as widely available in the past as it is today. Missing teeth can cause additional dental problems as the teeth shift and move out of place. Fortunately, there are various tooth replacement options on the market, including the placement of dental bridges. Dental bridges are best suited to patients who are only missing some of their teeth, and whose remaining teeth and gums are in good health.

Benefits of Tooth Replacement Bridges

Missing teeth can cause cosmetic, functional, and health problems for patients. The benefits of tooth replacement options include:

• Prevents movement of remaining teeth
• Prevents TMJ disorder
• Improves bite problems
• Improves problems with speech
• Reduces risk of bone loss
• Reduces risk of periodontal disease
• Reduces risk of tooth decay
• Provides additional support for the facial structure
• Provides the ability to chew the foods that you like
• Increases stability as compared to partial dentures
• Increases comfort
• Improves appearance
• Improves self-confidence
• Typically last 10 years or more

Many patients prefer dental bridges to dental implants or dentures. Dental implants are the most expensive tooth replacement solution on the market, they are typically used to replace just one or two missing teeth, and the treatment generally takes a total of six months to complete. Dentures can be used to replace a few teeth, or a full set of dentures can be fabricated to replace all the teeth in your mouth. However, many patients feel that dentures do not provide stability or a comfortable fit.

Limitations of Dental Bridges

The dental bridges procedure is an excellent treatment option for patients that are missing teeth. However, there are some limitations, risks, and side effects associated with the procedure. If you are considering undergoing dental treatment to address missing teeth, talk to your dentist about the teeth replacement options available to you, including bridges, dental implants, and dentures.

Bridges are an alternative to dental implants and dentures. However, they have their limitations as well. In order to undergo the dental bridges procedure, patients must have natural teeth that are strong enough to support the bridge, in addition to healthy gums. Further, bridges can generally only be used to replace up to two to three teeth in a row.

Risks and Side Effects of Bridges

The risks and side effects of dental bridges include:

• Bridges are not removable, making them more difficult to keep clean
• Some of the natural surrounding teeth will need to be removed to prep them for placement of the dental crowns
• If surrounding teeth are not strong enough to support it or the bridge span is too long, the restoration can collapse
• Dental bridges eventually need to be replaced; they typically last for several years
• Some patients experience tooth pain and sensitivity in the days following treatment

Contact a Dentist

If you are missing some of your teeth, contact a local dentist to schedule an appointment and learn more about the tooth replacement options that are available to you. A dentist can examine your remaining teeth and gums to determine if you are a good candidate for dental bridges, dentures, or dental implants.