Dental Bridges | The Family Dentist | Pretoria East, Faerie Glen

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some facts you many want to know

root canal

Root canal treatment is the removal of the tooth’s pulp, a small, thread-like tissue in the center of the tooth, sealing off the root canal.

dental bridges +

A bridge, also known as a fixed removable denture, is made to replace one or more missing teeth. Bridges can be supported by natural teeth or implants.

dental implants +

Implants are devices that replace the roots of missing teeth. They are used to support crowns, bridges or dentures and are surgically placed in your jawbone.

dentures +

Dentures are natural looking and comfortable replacements for missing teeth that can easily be taken out and put back into your mouth.

dental veneers +

These are thin shells of porcelain that are bonded to the front of the teeth, providing a natural, attractive look. They are used to fix chipped, stained or worn down teeth.

dental crowns +

A crown is a tooth-shaped cover placed over a tooth that is badly damaged or decayed. A crown is made to look like your tooth. Many people call it a cap.

dental extractions

Teeth are extracted for a variety of reasons including deep decay, significant infection or to make room for all the teeth in your mouth.

mercury fillings

A mercury filling is a silver/grey filling that is usually placed in the molar and premolar teeth. It consists of a mixture of different metals including mercury, silver, tin and copper.

dental whitening

Tooth whitening lightens teeth and removes stains and discoloration. It is among the most popular cosmetic dental procedures because it can greatly improve how your teeth look.

dental composite bonding

Composite Bonding is the application of a tooth-coloured composite resin to repair a decayed, chipped, fractured or discoloured tooth.

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dentalbridges +

what is a bridge?

A bridge, also known as a fixed removable denture, is made to replace one or more missing teeth.

bridges can be supported in any of three ways:

• By natural teeth

• By implants

• By a combination of teeth and implants

A traditional bridge is made by creating a crown for the teeth on either side of the space and placing a false tooth or teeth between the crowns. The crowns, sometimes called caps, can be supported by natural teeth or by implants. The false tooth or teeth are attached to the crowns and fill the empty space.

If the teeth receiving the crowns are healthy and strong, they probably will not need root canal therapy. However, parts of the teeth will be removed to make space for the crowns. Traditional bridges are made either of porcelain fused to metal (PFM) or ceramics.

There are other types of bridges as well. A cantilever bridge is held in the mouth by one or more crowns on only one side of the space where a tooth is missing. A Maryland bonded bridge consists of a metal framework with “wings” on each side. The wings are bonded to the back of your existing teeth. The false teeth are also bonded to the framework. This type of bridge is also called a resin-bonded bridge or an acid-etched bridge.

Bonded bridges usually are not as expensive as traditional bridges. That’s because the adjacent teeth need less preparation and do not get crowns. However, these bridges are only as strong as the bonding material. Resin-bonded bridges tend not to stay cemented in place as well as other kinds in parts of the mouth where there is a lot of biting force. They also may not be the best choice if the wings will have to be small to avoid getting in the way of the bite or the gums.

Getting a bridge requires at least two visits, but often more. At the first visit, your dentist prepares the teeth and covers them with temporary crowns. The dentist may then also opt to make impressions of the teeth.

The bridge is placed at later visits. On average, bridges last five to seven years. A major reason bridges fail is that new cavities develop on the supporting teeth. These cavities occur because of poor oral hygiene. With proper hygiene, which includes flossing your teeth under the bridge, they will last longer.

Dental brides, dentistry, The family dentist