Understanding Dental Pain and Bacterial Infections

Posted on: 13 February 2023

Losing a tooth can lead to you needing to evaluate your replacement options. Dental bridges are a standard tooth replacement option. For this reason, it may be one of the first solutions your dentist proposes.

Bridges Prevent Teeth From Shifting

A missing tooth can cause the teeth surrounding the gap to shift positions. This shifting can cause alignment problems. In addition to impacting your smile, these alignment issues may make it harder to replace the tooth in the future. Once these teeth shift positions, they must be moved back to their original place before a bridge can be placed. These adjustments could take weeks before enough progress is made for the bridge placement procedure to start. A dental bridge can prevent the neighboring teeth from shifting into this gap by filling this space with an artificial tooth.

A Dental Bridge Is More Affordable Than Implants

Replacing a missing tooth is an investment in your smile. However, it may not be as costly as people assume. For example, dental bridges are more affordable than implants. These savings are primarily a result of the fact that bridges do not require significant surgery to place. In addition to avoiding surgery costs, dental bridges also have virtually no recovery time for patients. The limited recovery requirements can prevent the costs of losing wages for missing multiple work days.

Dental Bridges Connect To The Neighboring Teeth

The dental bridge needs to be anchored in place. To this end, the bridge is attached to the adjacent teeth. To accomplish this, the dentist will place a crown on these teeth that can connect to the bridge. This step enables the bridge to be securely supported and held in place. It also allows the bridge to be removed if it needs repairs or replacing. As a result of this process, the adjacent teeth must be structurally sound. If they are severely damaged, they may not provide the robust support the bridge needs.

A Dental Bridge Still Needs Regular Cleaning

Dental bridges are not vulnerable to developing decay. Yet, patients must still be diligent about cleaning them. A dental bridge can accumulate large amounts of bacteria if you have poor cleaning habits. These bacteria could cause infections and other problems for the patient's gums. When cleaning the bridge, you must brush it like your natural teeth. This cleaning needs to include the gaps between the artificial teeth. Large amounts of bacteria can grow in these spaces, which can lead to it spreading through the mouth. 

For more information about adult dentistry, contact a local dentist.