DENTAL BRIDGE (CẦU RĂNG SỨ)
A dental bridge is used to replace missing teeth. The bridge is supported and bonded to the natural adjacent teeth on both sides of the gap. It consists of two crowns at both ends of the missing space and a false tooth in the middle. These two crowns are placed on the abutment teeth, while the false tooth is called the pontic.
Missing teeth need to be replaced, especially in cases of missing anterior teeth. A dental bridge restores chewing function, as it fits between the neighboring teeth and the opposing teeth in their original position. Whenever possible, a dental bridge is preferable to a removable denture when replacing a single missing tooth.
Typically, a bridge requires one abutment tooth on each side of the gap. For a dental bridge to remain functional long-term, the supporting structures around the abutment teeth must be healthy, and the gap should be short and properly aligned. The dentist preparing the abutment teeth should fully understand the principles and perform the procedure precisely. Several factors determine the indication for a dental bridge, including the selection of abutment teeth and the method of tooth preparation.
ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF DENTAL BRIDGES
A dental bridge is a restorative method for missing teeth that requires the two adjacent natural teeth to be filed down to serve as abutments. This method involves two main procedures: tooth preparation and fabrication of the dental crowns.
The tooth preparation step requires the dentist to have skill and precision in determining the amount of tooth structure to be removed — enough to secure the crown while avoiding damage to the dental pulp. Over-preparation may cause harm to the natural tooth tissue.
To create a dental bridge, the dentist will take dental impressions and collect full information regarding the size, shape, and color of the teeth to fabricate the most compatible crowns. The crowns must fit tightly onto the abutment teeth and have a color shade that blends naturally with the surrounding teeth.
ADVANTAGES OF DENTAL BRIDGES
Superior Aesthetics Compared to Removable Dentures
Compared with removable dentures, dental bridges offer much better aesthetics. The abutment teeth are only moderately prepared, causing minimal damage to natural teeth. The crowns are tightly fitted and color-matched to the surrounding teeth, making it difficult to distinguish between real teeth and the prosthetic after placement.
Good Chewing Function
Studies show that dental bridges can restore up to 80% of the chewing function of natural teeth. This allows patients to enjoy comfortable eating, even with harder foods, as bridges provide sufficient strength and stability.
Cost-Effective
Dental bridges are considered a relatively affordable tooth replacement method while still offering significant effectiveness. Compared with dental implants, bridges are much less expensive, which is one of the main reasons why many patients choose this method.
High Durability
Compared with removable dentures, dental bridges have a much longer lifespan. On average, a dental bridge can last more than 10 years. The exact durability depends largely on the type of material used. For example, all-ceramic bridges, while more expensive, can last significantly longer and do not discolor over time.
DISADVANTAGES OF DENTAL BRIDGES
Although dental bridges provide many benefits and are highly valued, they still have certain limitations:
Removal of Natural Tooth Structure
Dental bridges require the preparation of natural teeth to serve as abutments. The adjacent teeth to the missing tooth must be filed down to support the bridge. If the dentist lacks sufficient experience, there is a risk of damaging the dental pulp.
Bone Resorption
Dental bridges cannot prevent jawbone loss. Since they only replace the crown portion of the missing tooth and not the root, the area beneath the missing tooth will still experience natural bone resorption over time.
How Are Removable Dentures Made?
Removable dentures consist of a combination of artificial gums and prosthetic teeth. The gum base is typically made from either soft or hard acrylic resin (with or without metal clasps) and is designed in a pink shade similar to the patient’s natural gums.
The prosthetic teeth, made from either acrylic or porcelain, are securely attached to the gum base, forming a unified structure. The number of artificial teeth on the denture corresponds to the number of missing natural teeth.
In general, removable dentures are divided into two main types depending on the number of missing teeth:
1. Acrylic Partial Dentures
Often referred to as full dentures, this type is commonly used for patients who have lost all of their teeth in the upper jaw, lower jaw, or both. In some cases, it can also be applied for patients missing only a few teeth, but in such situations, the dentures tend to be loose and more prone to slipping.
This type of denture is usually made as a single unit that sits directly on the gum tissue without metal clasps. Because of its simple fabrication process that does not require advanced techniques, this option is generally the most affordable among removable dentures.
2. Metal Framework Dentures
Partial Removable Dentures are usually recommended for patients who are missing only a few teeth on the dental arch.
Typically, this type of denture has a plastic base combined with metal clasps or a metal framework that attaches to the remaining natural teeth, helping to secure the denture in place and prevent slipping while chewing. For this reason, metal framework dentures are generally more expensive than acrylic (plastic base) dentures.
Patient Case at Hanoi Sydney Dental Center
