Pros and Cons of Dental Bridges

Do the gaps between your teeth hold you back from broadening that beautiful smile? Dental bridges is one of the most efficient procedures that people facing gaps between teeth undergo. The name dental bridge itself suggests that it will bridge the gap created by one or more missing teeth. This bridge is made of crowns for the teeth on either side (abutment teeth) of the gap with false teeth in between (potnics) to fill in the gaps. However, before you decide to undergo this dental procedure, we advise you to do your homework. We will explain to you the pros and cons of getting dental bridges which could help you decide better.

Pros of Dental Bridges

- Natural Looking

Dental bridges are available in porcelain, gold and other alloys. However, people usually prefer porcelain over gold and other alloys due to its natural-looking feature. If you are planning to fit a porcelain dental bridge, it will give you a natural-looking smile. In fact, it improves the colour and health of the adjacent teeth.

- Affordable

When it comes to dental bridges, it is much more affordable compared to dental implants. Dental bridge is relatively cheap and also lasts for quite a long time, about 10-15 years. Which helps you spend less on expensive dental implants.

- Quick and Easy

Dental bridging procedure is quick compared to dental implants. It takes only about 2 visits to your dentist. The first visit is to make your adjacent teeth ready for the crowns, while the second visit is for actually placing the crown. It is also much less painful as compared to major dental implants.

- Low Maintenance

Once undergone the dental bridge procedure, there is no additional maintenance or dentist visits required. Unless you start facing some problems such as plaque buildup or painful gums, you are not required to visit your dentist. With good hygiene and regular maintenance throughout your brushing routines, dental bridge last for 5-10 years

Cons of Dental Bridges

- Not Permanent

Like dental implants, dental bridges are not a permanent fix. As mentioned above, they need to be replaced after almost 10 years thus, making it a recurring procedure.

- Utilizes Healthy Teeth

Dental bridge utilizes healthy teeth for anchoring purposes. The adjacent teeth that are capped with crowns are shaved accordingly to create space for filling. This leads to loss of enamel thus making it prone to cavities.

- Difficulty in maintaining Hygiene

With dental bridges, it is difficult to maintain hygiene due to difficulty in flossing. Dental bridges do not have special hygiene requirements thus it is maintained in the same way you would maintain your regular teeth. But due to the crowns, there is a possibility of plaque formation.

- Possible Nerve Damage

The shaving of teeth for proper dental bridging procedure can lead the teeth losing its vitality. The procedure leads to possible nerve damage. Although this happens only in rare cases, nerve damage should be rectified as soon as possible. 

Despite the pros and cons, there is rising confusion about whether one must undergo dental implant or dental bridge. To reach the best possible conclusion, it is important to analyze the pros and cons carefully and understand the procedure completely or consult 247 Emergency Dental Clinic for the best guidance.