Bridges

Vista Dental in Medicine Hat is a modern dental office with all sorts of ways of restoring missing teeth. Dental bridges are one of the most commonly used kinds of prosthodontics, so we want to ensure our patients’ understanding of them is up to date.

Bridges are used when multiple teeth are missing or have extensive decay. The most basic kind of bridge is a series of connected crowns. Two of a patient’s natural teeth would be reshaped into cylindrical abutments, and the artificial crowns at the ends of a bridge would be fitted over them, with a third crown suspended between. Bridges are less taxing on the patient than implants, which have to integrate with the jaw bone, and individual crowns won’t drift. But the classic bridge requires all the teeth in its way to be removed or reshaped, making it undesirable for people who only need some teeth replaced.

Dentures can also be thought of as bridges, and removable partial dentures can be used for people who only need a few teeth replaced. The denture can be constructed with a gap for a natural tooth, and although it may need to be refitted if the tooth drifts, it is easier to clean. Partial and full dentures can also be supported with mini-implants, providing some jaw bone stability with a shorter osseointegration process than full-sized implants.

Vista Dental is located at 7 Strachan Bay SE, Medicine Hat, Alberta, T1B 4Y2, Canada. To schedule an appointment, call 403-548-7077 or visit Vista Dental MH.