Dental Bridges in Holmdel, NJ
Many dentists recommend dental bridges for replacing one or more missing teeth. Along with improving your oral health, bridges can maintain the shape of your face because they support cheeks and lips.
Dental bridges can either be permanently attached to your remaining teeth or removable. Here are some of the factors that decide which type of bridge is used to replace your teeth.
Location of Missing Teeth
The decision to place a removable or permanent bridge is often dependent on the location of the missing teeth. Permanent bridges often replace molars because they are stronger than removable bridges, and molars do most of the work chewing food.
Removable bridges are usually the best choice if missing teeth surround healthy natural teeth. One of our dentists at Dipika T Shah, DDS, LLC can make a bridge that can fill the gaps left by missing teeth but allow for any natural teeth to stay in place.
Too Many Missing Teeth
The type of bridge, permanent or removable, that a dentist recommends for your needs will depend on how many teeth are missing. If there are several teeth together you need to replace, then a removable bridge, or a partial denture, is usually the recommendation.
A permanent bridge requires support from surrounding healthy teeth. If there are no teeth or they are too weak to support a dental bridge, then our dentists in Holmdel will recommend a removable bridge. However, they may recommend a partial denture if several teeth on both sides of the mouth need replacing.
How Long Do Bridges Last?
A permanent bridge isn’t necessarily in place for the rest of your life. If you have good oral hygiene habits, then bridges may last throughout your life. However, if you have bad habits, then a bridge may only last five to seven years.
Removable bridges often need replacing within 5 to 10 years, depending on your oral hygiene habits. Over time, they can start to wear down and sink onto the gums. To maintain the support of your cheeks and lips, your dentist will evaluate it when you go in for your regular dental exams to make sure it’s still in good shape and can remain in place.