Dental Bridges Havant
For bridges and dentures in Havant contact Prince George Dental Practice. Bridges replace missing teeth without the need for a denture. They are durable, look like your real teeth and restore your bite as well as your smile. It is only possible to fit a bridge if you have good bone support and enough strong teeth.
There are a number of different types of bridges. They all involve the teeth either side of the gap holding a false tooth in place.
The most common type of bridge are:
- Fixed Bridges – Crowns are place on the abutment teeth (teeth either side of the space). A false tooth is attached to the crowns, to close the gap.
- Cantilever bridges – Similar to a fixed bridge these are used when there are teeth on only one side of the gap.
- Maryland bridges – This has wings that are bonded to the back of the supporting teeth. As crowns are not needed there is very little drilling and the process does not involve filing down the surrounding teeth. However they are not as durable as a fixed bridge. but the process does not involve filing down the surrounding teeth necessary when fitting a fixed bridge.
How is a bridge made?
The first stage is to prepare the surrounding ‘abutment ‘ teeth which will be supporting the bridge. Preparation often involves filing the surrounding teeth down in order to remove some enamel to allow room for a bridge to be fitted (usually under local anaesthesia) followed by an impression or mould of the prepared area. The mould taken is then sent to a laboratory where skilled technicians will fabricate the bridge. In the meantime, a temporary bridge will be fitted. At the last appointment, the temporary bridge is removed and the completed bridge is tried for fit, harmony with the bite, and appearance. Finally, the bridge is permanently cemented onto the prepared tooth with dental cement.
Dentures
Dentures are removable false teeth. If all the teeth are missing in either the upper or lower jaw a ‘full’ or ‘complete’ denture is fitted. A ‘partial’ denture fills the gaps left by one or a few missing teeth.
Dentures are made of plastic (acrylic) or metal and fit over the gums. An impression (mould) of your mouth is taken from which a trial denture is made. The fit and appearance is assessed before the final denture is produced.
How easy is it to eat and speak with dentures?
You will need to get used to your denture at the beginning. Eating and pronouncing certain words takes practice. With eating start with soft food and cut it into small pieces. To stop the denture from moving in the mouth chew slowly on both sides at the same time. As you get used to the denture introduce other foods until you are back to a full diet. If some words are proving difficult to pronounce repeating the word and reading out loud can help.
How long will my dentures last?
If you take care of your dentures they should last for several years. However, eventually dentures may not fit as well as they should and feel loose. This is because your jawbone and gums shrink over time and the dentures become worn. You need to see your dentist if your dentures click when you are talking or slip and feel uncomfortable. Problems caused by not replacing dentures when necessary include mouth sores, infections, difficulty with eating, problems with speech and discomfort.
Are dentures and bridges the only options for replacing missing teeth?
No. Another option to consider are Implants. Please click here for further information regarding implants.