Missing a tooth can present a lot of dental health complications. For starters, the gap may impair the appearance of your smile. The space may also make it more difficult to chew, affect your speech, and cause surrounding teeth to shift out of proper alignment. Fortunately, if you face this issue, bridges are one way to fill in the empty space. Crafted from durable materials, bridges are prosthetic devices that position one or more artificial teeth in the open gap by affixing to surrounding teeth through the use of a dental crown. If you’re curious how a dental bridge may improve your smile, here are a few pros and cons to consider.

Pros

Have Natural Appearance

The materials used to create bridges are shaped and colored to match the rest of your teeth. While others may notice how great your restored smile looks, they won’t likely be able to tell which teeth are false.

Prevent Shifting

By filling in the space that’s left behind by a lost or extracted tooth, bridges can prevent surrounding teeth from shifting out of place. This benefit can help you avoid the need for orthodontic treatment—such as braces—to shift the teeth back into position.

Maintain Easily

Unlike dentures, bridges do not need to be removed and placed in a cleansing solution each day. Instead, you will care for the prosthetic as you would with your other teeth—such as by brushing, flossing, and visiting your dentist for cleanings.

Cons

May Damage Surrounding Teeth

The outer sides of the bridge consist of abutments—crowns that anchor to existing teeth to keep the device in place. While dental crowns are safe, effective, and comfortable, having them placed will still require the dentist to file down healthy teeth to make room for the prosthetics.

Could Need to Be Replaced

With proper care, dental bridges typically last no longer than 10 years. At the end of the bridge’s life span, your dentist will have to create a new prosthetic and replace the old device.

Doesn’t Protect Against Bone Loss

Bridges do not replace the root structure that’s found beneath the gums. Without roots, you may develop jawbone loss that impairs your facial appearance and overall oral health. If you want to preserve your jawbone, dental implants offer a lifelong replacement for both the tooth and root structures.

When one or more missing teeth have left you without a complete smile, JP Larson, DDS, and Stephen J. Larson, DDS, can help you explore the best options for dental restoration. Providing general and cosmetic dentistry in Cincinnati, OH, this team of specialists can help determine which prosthetic solutions are best for your needs—including dental bridges, crowns, veneers, and implants. Whatever treatment suits your needs, these caring dentists will gently guide you through the treatment process in the most comfortable way possible. To learn more about the services this dental team offers, visit the clinic online, or call (513) 528-1223 to schedule an appointment.