Bridges

Dr. Rawcliffe would like to encourage all of his patients who are missing teeth to have those teeth replaced. If you don’t – if you choose to simply live without one or more teeth – your other teeth will shift in place over time. Eventually, that will throw your bite off, which can lead to discomfort and difficulty in chewing food. Missing teeth can even result in jaw problems and can actually change the shape of your face after a certain period of time. Fortunately, there are several different methods available to replace missing teeth. One of those is the dental bridge, an appliance that Dr. Rawcliffe is pleased to offer to his Round Rock, TX, patients.

Important Information about Bridges

A dental bridge consists of artificial teeth (porcelain crowns) that are mounted onto a metal frame. Brackets on either end of the frame fit over existing teeth on either side of the gap left behind by the missing teeth. Because the crowns are made of porcelain, they can be created to very closely match the color of the patient’s natural teeth. The result is that a dental bridge is hardly noticeable at all.

Types of Bridges

Generally speaking, there are two types of bridges available to patients: a fixed bridge, which is not removable by the wearer; and a removable bridge, which can be removed by the wearer. Many people prefer a fixed bridge because it won’t move inside a patient’s mouth the way removable bridges can. Fixed bridges offer another advantage in that there is no special cleaning regimen involved – patients simply brush and floss their teeth as they normally do. However, some patients prefer a removable bridge. These appliances must be soaked and cleaned in the same way as dentures, using an over-the-counter denture cleaning product.