Dental Bridges for the Front Teeth
Missing teeth diminish oral functions while compromising the appearance of the smile. The aesthetic effects of tooth loss are especially devastating when the front teeth go missing. If one to three consecutive teeth are lost from the front of the mouth, the most appropriate restorative dentistry treatment may be a dental bridge.
Dental bridges for the front teeth fill in gaps to restore the strength and beauty of the smile. At our Edmonton, AB, dental practice, Dr. Nathaniel Podilsky offers several dental bridge techniques, including implant-supported bridges, which are secured by surgically placed titanium posts, or dental implants.
Traditional Dental Bridge
For many years, a traditional dental bridge was the only treatment technique available to tooth loss patients. A traditional dental bridge is one that is supported by dental crowns. When a traditional dental bridge is placed, the two teeth on either end of tooth loss are reshaped and fitted with dental crowns. The pontic piece of the dental bridge (the piece that replicates the missing teeth) sits between the crowns to span the gap left by tooth loss.
A traditional dental bridge is strong, stable, and attractive. When front teeth go missing, a traditional bridge is an effective solution, because it restores oral functions and enhances the beauty of the smile.
Implant-supported Bridge
While a traditional dental bridge is an effective solution for missing front teeth, many of our Edmonton patients desire an implant-supported bridge. An implant-supported bridge is anchored by a series of dental implants. Dental implants are surgically placed in the jaw where they fuse with the patient’s bone tissues. Abutment posts are attached to dental implants, and the dental bridge is bonded to these posts.
Implant-supported bridges offer many unique benefits over other dental bridge techniques. For one thing, implant-supported bridges do not require any alteration to adjacent teeth, so we can preserve tooth enamel. Second, since dental implants fuse with the bone tissues, they essentially become a part of the jaw. This makes implant-supported bridges more secure, durable, and comfortable than other dental bridge techniques. Finally, an implant-supported bridge stimulates the jaw and is the only tooth loss treatment that can prevent bone degeneration.
Alternative Techniques
When a dental bridge is placed at the side or back of the mouth, traditional bridges and implant-supported bridges are the only options for our Edmonton patients to consider. Although these are also the most common options for missing front teeth, there are alternative techniques that may sometimes be considered for the front of the mouth.
The front teeth are rarely used for chewing food. Because the front teeth should not sustain as much force as the side and back teeth, some patients with missing front teeth may be candidates for a cantilever bridge or a Maryland bridge.
- Cantilever bridge: A cantilever bridge is similar to a traditional bridge. However, a cantilever bridge is anchored by a dental crown on only one side, rather than on both sides of the gap.
- Maryland bridge: A Maryland bridge is not secured by dental crowns or implants. Instead, small ceramic “wings” stick out on either side of the bridge and are bonded to the back of adjacent teeth. This is the least common dental bridge technique and may only be suitable if a person is missing a single tooth from the front of the mouth.
Contact Us
If you have suffered the loss of the front teeth, Dr. Nathaniel Podilsky offers many restorative dentistry treatments to rebuild your smile. To learn more about your treatment options, call our dental practice at (780) 900-6435 and schedule an appointment at your earliest convenience.
