The Standard Procedure for Getting Dental Bridges
The procedure for getting a dental bridge can vary depending on the type of bridge you are prescribed. It also depends on whether your bridge is permanent or removable.
Preparation State for Getting a Dental Bridge
The first stage of the procedure is similar regardless of the type of bridge. It would begin when you go to the dentist and have your teeth examined. You can ask your dentist for bridges to replace missing teeth. Your dentist would evaluate your teeth and gums to determine your suitability for the procedure. If you have gum disease, you may not qualify for permanent dental bridges. You can discuss the type of bridge you want, the materials, and whether you want it to be permanent or removable. During the first visit, your dentist may prepare your teeth for receiving a dental bridge. This may involve cleaning out the tooth gap area by removing stubs of teeth. For bridges supported by teeth, your dentist may prepare the anchoring teeth as well. Quite importantly, your dentist would take x-rays and make impressions of your teeth. These would be sent to a laboratory to design and sculpt the dental bridge. Your second visit would have to wait until the bridge is fully constructed.
Fitting a Teeth-Supported Dental Bridge
Expect to wait more than a week for the dental bridges to get ready. Then you can head back to the dentist for the procedure. If your bridge is teeth supported, your dentist may have give you’re a temporary bridge during the first visit. It’s normal for the dentist to remove some enamel from anchoring teeth to prepare for the dental bridge. During the second visit, the temporary bridge would come off. The dentist would check to make sure the new dental bridge is made according to measurements. For permanent dental bridges, the dentist would use a special cement to attach the bridge. You can try feeling how well the new bridge fits. You won’t be able to bite down hard on anything until the bridge is fully attached to the teeth. This may take a day or even up to a week depending on the type of procedure. Your dentist will instruct you to wear the dental bridge for several days to ensure the fit. If the fit is not right, you can go back to the dentist and make the necessary adjustments. Getting removable dental bridges work the same way, except that the bridge is not attached to your teeth. Your dentist will show you how to put on the temporary bridge and remove it.
Getting Implant-Supported Dental Bridges
The procedure for dental bridges with implants requires oral surgery. The first stage of the procedure involves surgery to drill the implants into your mouth. Then you would have to wait up to 8 months for the implants to fully fuse into your jawbone. In the meantime, your dentist may provide a temporary dental bridge. Once a checkup confirms that the implants are fused, there would be a second procedure the receive the dental bridge. Your dentist will make a small cut on the gum to expose the implants and then use an abutment to fix the implants to the bridge. The recovery time for this procedure is much shorter. The implant-supported dental bridge procedure is more expensive and complex than teeth supported ones. But you can enjoy more stability following this procedure.