When is a Dental Bridge the Best Option for Missing Teeth?
Posted on 11/16/2020 by Oral Surgery Specialists of Austin |
 Traumatic dental injuries (TDIs) often lead to fractures or displaced teeth. Therefore, it is important to address this type of condition soon after an injury takes place.
What Leads to a TDI?
A collision between the facial area and any type of object, or the ground, can lead to a traumatic dental injury, or TDI. According to the online publication, Dentistry Today, the treatment options for TDIs improve the prognosis for this type of condition. For instance, avulsed teeth, or teeth that have been knocked out, may be replanted. If this happens, look for the tooth, rinse it with saline, and so it can be replanted, or, if that is impractical, place the tooth in milk before seeing us to determine a treatment method. Those types of emergencies are, of course, easily recognized. However, other teeth, which did not receive a direct traumatic impact, still have to be assessed. Therefore, an evaluation of the adjacent teeth must also be performed. Most instances of dental trauma have a summative impact. That is why we have to understand the nature of an injury to determine treatment. For instance, it is important to know exactly how an injury happened. This is especially helpful to know when avulsions or soft tissues injuries occur.
Previous Injuries
To recognize a dental trauma, it is also important to learn if there were previous injuries to the gums and teeth. Some patients who experience a trauma also had a prior accident. With respect to prior injuries, we need to know what type of treatment was administered, and if we can get previous x-rays. We can also ascertain trauma if teeth have become discolored or went through a color change. It helps to test dental sensitivity as well. Percussion testing lets us know if the oral tissues have been damaged. In some instances, a tooth may need a splint. Usually, teeth that have been luxated or avulsed should be stabilized. Orthodontic considerations may need to be made if an injury happens when a patient receives this treatment. In some instances, a tooth straightening treatment may be stopped to enable healing of the periodontium (tissue) that supports the teeth.
Do you need for us to assess current dental problems related to a past trauma? If so, give us a call today to schedule an appointment.
A dental bridge is one of several options available for restoring one or more missing teeth. Bridges consist of prosthetic teeth, or pontics, that are held in place by your existing teeth on either side. There are a variety of factors to consider when deciding if a dental bridge is the best option for you.
Abutment Teeth
In order to have a dental bridge placed successfully, you need to have healthy teeth on either side of the gap where you are missing one or more teeth. These teeth, which we refer to as abutment teeth, anchor the bridge in place. For a traditional dental bridge, we cement a crown onto each abutment tooth. The crowns are attached to however many pontics are necessary to “bridge” the gap where you are missing teeth. Typically, both the crowns and the pontic are made of porcelain that is highly durable and natural in appearance. Because healthy abutment teeth are necessary for dental bridge placement, a bridge is a good option for someone who is only missing one tooth or a few teeth in one area, and whose remaining natural teeth are strong and free of decay. A dental bridge would not be the best option for someone who is missing an entire arch or both arches of teeth, or someone with multiple decayed or damaged teeth.
Time and Cost
A dental bridge is a less expensive, invasive, and time-consuming tooth restoration than other options such as dental implants. While bridges can be combined with implants for added support, this would mean more surgeries, a longer healing time, and a significantly higher cost (up to $15,000 for an implant-supported bridge versus $2,000 to $5,000 for a traditional bridge). Bridges can be placed quickly, while dental implants typically require two surgeries with months of healing time in between.
Dental bridges are a highly effective way to restore the appearance and full function of your teeth. If you are missing one or more teeth in one area, contact our office to learn more about dental bridges.
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