For patients that have lost one or more teeth, a dental bridge can be an effective replacement option that will provide faster results as well as be more affordable than dental implants. If you currently need to have a tooth replacement, learning a few basic facts about dental bridges and the results that they provide can help you to weigh whether or not this is the best option for your tooth replacement requirements.

A Dental Bridge Will Rest On Top Of The Gums

Unlike dental implants, a bridge will not be anchored directly into the jawbone. Rather, the dental bridge will rest on top of the gums where the missing tooth was located. To keep the dental bridge in place, it will normally be anchored to the neighboring teeth. This is done by attaching a specialized dental crown to the teeth. This crown will be designed to hold the supports for the artificial tooth in place. As a result, the dental bridge will be stable and secure in the patient's mouth without needing to put it directly into the jaw bone.

A Dental Bridge Can Be A Permanent Addition To Your Mouth

There are many dental patients that will simply assume that a dental bridge will be a removable addition to their mouths. However, this is not always the case as there are dental bridges that are designed to be permanently placed in the patient's mouth. These bridges can be a more durable option that will be able to securely rest in the patient's mouth as they are chewing, speaking, or drinking.

A Dental Bridge Can Be More Than Simply A Cosmetic Addition To Your Mouth

There are some dental patients that will assume that a dental bridge is only for cosmetic purposes. While this is an addition to your mouth that can restore your appearance after suffering tooth loss, individuals should avoid assuming that there are no practical benefits to having a bridge placed in their mouths. The reality is that these bridges will be able to minimize many of the functional issues that a patient is likely to experience after they go through the placement process. An example of this could be a dental bridge that can minimize the impacts that the missing tooth will have on a person's ability to speak clearly. Also, these bridges can make it much easier for a person to eat food as they will close gaps so that they can more easily chew.

To learn more about dental bridges, contact a cosmetic dentist in your area such as Steven A. Kumasaka, DDS.