Dental Bridge

Generality

The dental bridge is a fixed prosthetic device, which allows to cover the space left empty ( gap ) by one or more missing teeth and to replace the latter both in appearance and in functions.

Three porcelain dental elements fused by a metal bridge in PFM. Image from wikipedia.org

Not to be confused with the dental implant, the dental bridge essentially comprises two parts: a couple of capsules, which serve to anchor the dental bridge, and the intermediate elements, which are in fact the "false teeth" that must replace the teeth missing.

The installation of a dental bridge is a dental restoration method, which involves three phases: the preparation of the abutment teeth (first phase), the phase of collecting dental impressions with consequent construction of the dental implant (second phase) and finally, the housing phase of the dental bridge (third phase).

Currently, there is the possibility of making dental bridges in: ceramic, ceramic metal, zirconium-ceramic or porcelain.

If the patient takes care of his oral hygiene - then carefully wash his teeth after every meal, use dental floss at least once a day, adopt a diet that protects from caries, etc. - a dental bridge can last up to 15 years.

What is a dental bridge?

A dental bridge is a fixed prosthetic device, which serves to cover the space left free by one or more missing or extracted teeth. In specialist terms, this empty space is called a dental gap or, simply, a gap .

The installation of a dental bridge is a dental restoration method.

The dental bridge should not be confused with the so - called dental implant, which is also a fixed prosthetic device for replacing one or more missing or extracted teeth.

Features

The dental bridge has, in fact, the appearance and the functions of the missing teeth or teeth that it must replace. As a rule, its installation involves anchoring to the two teeth that delimit the area presenting the tooth gap .

Structurally speaking, two elements can be identified in a dental bridge: the capsules and the intermediate element (or the intermediate elements ).

Two in number, the capsules are used to anchor the dental bridge to the teeth delimiting the gap ; in the dental field, these teeth take the specific name of abutment teeth .

The intermediate elements, on the other hand, are the " false teeth " that must functionally and aesthetically replace the missing teeth (NB: this is called an intermediate element, when there is only one missing tooth).

WHAT DOES THE DENTAL BRIDGE DISTING FROM THE DENTAL IMPLANTATION?

Dental bridge and dental implant have different differences. Among these, one in particular is noted: while the dental bridge provides its anchorage to the teeth adjacent to the gap (NB: union between the intermediate elements of the dental bridge and the so-called abutment teeth), the dental implant provides for its anchorage to the bones which, as a rule, support the human teeth ( jaw and jaw );

Indications

The installation of a dental bridge is indicated whenever the lack of one or more teeth:

It compromises the masticatory function;
It affects the phonetic function;
It ruins the look of the smile, creating an aesthetic discomfort;
Risk of causing the displacement of adjacent healthy teeth.

Table. The purposes of a dental bridge.

It restores the masticatory function and the phonetic function, where these are compromised due to the lack of one or more teeth;
Restores the smile to a normal appearance, where the absence of one or more teeth disfigures the aesthetics of the mouth;
Prevents the movement of healthy teeth adjacent to the gap ;
It allows the correct distribution of the so-called bite force on the teeth.

CAUSES OF LACK OF ONE OR MORE TEETH

A tooth gap - that is the lack of one or more teeth - may depend on:

A serious and incurable tooth decay, which made it necessary to extract the tooth or teeth concerned;
A severe fracture not only of the crown, but also of the root of one or more teeth;
Important dental abscess;
Old age;
Severe periodontitis, which has made dental extraction indispensable.

Installation

The installation of a dental bridge essentially consists of three phases which, in chronological order from the first to the last, are: the preparation phase of the pillar teeth, the phase of collecting the dental impressions and the construction of the dental bridge and, finally, the housing phase of the dental bridge .

The procedure for installing dental bridges is not a surgical intervention .

PREPARATION OF PILLAR TEETH

As mentioned in part, the anchoring of the dental bridge takes place through the so-called capsules, which the dentist inserts - as if they were a pen cap - on the two teeth delimiting the gap (the so-called pillar teeth).

The two capsules serve to anchor the dental bridge to the abutment teeth and are comparable, in many respects, to the cap of a pen.

The realization of the encapsulation of the dental bridge always requires the filing of the enamel of the teeth destined to serve as pillar teeth.

In other words, to be able to anchor a dental bridge, it is essential to modify the teeth adjacent to the gap, preparing them for inserting the capsules.

Only at the end of the preparation of the abutment teeth, it is possible to pass to the next phase, namely the collection of dental impressions.

COLLECTION OF DENTAL IMPRESSIONS AND CONSTRUCTION OF THE DENTAL BRIDGE

The collection of dental impressions consists, in fact, in a photograph of the abutment teeth, prepared in advance and on which the dentist will have to insert the capsules for anchoring.

Dental impressions are fundamental for the construction of capsules suitable for abutment teeth and for the creation of intermediate elements suitable for the correct coverage of the gap .

To maintain the masticatory and aesthetic function of the teeth subjected to filings, the two capsules that cover the latter are made in such a way as to possess the appearance of normal teeth (specifically, they reproduce the canonical aspect of the teeth that they will have to cover).

In general, the assembly of a dental bridge takes place in a dental laboratory and takes a few days. Normally, while waiting for the dental bridge to be ready, the dentists cover the gap with a temporary prosthesis .

HOUSING OF THE DENTAL BRIDGE

With the housing of the dental bridge, the dentist provides for the encapsulation of the abutment teeth and the gap cover, by means of the intermediate element (s).

Encapsulation requires the use of a glue, commonly called cement . It takes about two weeks for the cement to solidify definitively.

Dental bridge or dental implant? Short summary of when the first to the second is preferable.

The dental bridge is suitable for those patients in whom the teeth adjacent to the gap are in fair condition (but not optimal!) And the jaw and the mandible are subject to bone resorption.
The dental implant is the best choice for those patients whose teeth adjacent to the gap are perfectly healthy or extremely sick and in which the jaw and jaw are in excellent health.
Teeth adjacent to the gap in excellent health exclude recourse to the dental bridge, because, according to dentists, it is not worth subjecting perfectly healthy and functional teeth to filing.
Teeth adjacent to the very sick gap exclude recourse to the dental bridge, because they would not be able to perform the task of abutment teeth.

Materials

Currently, there is the possibility of making dental bridges in ceramics, in metal ceramics, in zirconium-ceramic or in porcelain .

To decide the construction material of a dental bridge are the dentist and the patient, after a due discussion on the pros, cons and expenses.

Duration and management

The life of a generic dental bridge has a duration that varies between 5 and 15 years .

If the wearer takes care of his oral hygiene, the chances of the dental bridge lasting at least ten years are quite high. After all, the health of the teeth and, in particular, of the abutment teeth is fundamental for the correct positioning and functioning of the dental bridges.