A bottom teeth bridge is a dental prosthesis that can be used to replace a lower missing tooth or teeth. This can be done for cosmetic and/or functional purposes. The purpose of dental bridges is to restore your smile and ability to chew properly. A dental bridge is fixed in place and supported by neighboring teeth or implants. It can be made of metal, porcelain, or a combination of both materials. In this blog post, we’ll discuss the benefits and types of dental bridges for missing lower teeth.
Consequences of Losing Teeth
If you lose lower teeth, it can have serious consequences that affect your oral health and overall health. It will be more difficult to chew food properly. Also, it affects your facial profile and self-esteem. Consequences of tooth loss include:
- Chewing and speaking problems: tooth loss affects your ability to chew food properly. Also, front teeth are important for the proper enunciation of words.
- Jawbone loss: The jaw bone is a living bone, and it responds to tooth loss by shrinking. This will weaken the structure of your face and may affect your ability to chew normally. After tooth loss, the jawbone loses 25% of its width during the first year and 40% of its width during the first 1–3 years.
- Facial profile changes: your cheeks and lips will lose support due to the loss of teeth and jawbone. This may cause your facial profile to change.
- Temporomandibular Joint disorders: loss of lower teeth can affect your jaw joint and cause problems such as TMJ pain, headaches, and/or clicking sounds.
- Poor general health: tooth loss makes it difficult to eat raw fruits and vegetables, which can affect your general health.
- Lower your self-esteem: teeth loss is a sign of aging, and it can cause embarrassment, low self-esteem.
In the case of lower tooth loss, the dental bridge can be an option to improve your smile, health, and self-esteem.
What is a Bottom Teeth Bridge & Its Benefits?
A dental bridge is a dental prosthesis that can replace one or more missing bottom teeth. It is supported by neighboring teeth or dental implants. The bottom teeth bridge replaces a missing tooth, several teeth, or even part of the arch. It can be made of metal, porcelain, or a combination of both materials and it has to be cemented onto adjacent teeth. Benefits of replacing missing bottom teeth with a dental bridge include:
- Restore your smile: dental bridges can improve your smile and self-esteem.
- Restore chewing function: bottom teeth bridges allow you to eat the same way you did before tooth loss, which will improve your nutrition & general health.
- Improve speaking: bridges can treat speaking problems caused by tooth loss.
- Maintain your face’s natural shape: your lips and cheeks will not sink in like they do when teeth are missing.
- Prevent TMJ disorders: It can improve your jaw joint function and reduce or eliminate TMJ pain, clicking, headaches, or other issues caused by teeth loss.
Read more about the benefits of getting a fake tooth.
Types of a Bottom Teeth Bridge
There are several bridge types in dentistry for missing bottom teeth, each of them has its advantages and disadvantages. It is important to discuss your specific needs with your dentist. Types of bottom teeth bridges include:
- Traditional dental bridge: it is one of the oldest teeth bridge designs. It has a great aesthetic, but it requires the preparation of adjacent sound teeth for support. It cosists of 2 cowns and an artificial tooth (pontic) in between. Crowns are cemented onto the prepared teeth (abutment teeth) on either side of the gap. A traditional bridge for missing bottom teeth can be made of metal alloy, porcelain-fused-to-metal, or all-ceramic. Traditional bridges are a good option for missinig bottom front teeth.
- Maryland bridge: it is similar to traditional bottom teeth bridges, but it was designed with less preparation and preserving of adjacent teeth. Maryland bridge uses a metal or porcelain framework that is bonded onto the backs of adjacent healthy teeth.
- Implant-supported dental bridge: bottom teeth bridges can be supported by dental implants instead of natural teeth. Implant-supported bridges are suitable when there are no natural teeth for support and if there are many adjacent teeth missing (more than 3 missing teeth). However, They are more expensive than traditional bridges and require a surgical procedure and healing period (2 to 4 months).
Traditional Bridge vs. Implant for Replacing Missing Bottom Teeth
If you have one or more missing bottom teeth, you can choose a traditional bridge or implants to replace them. Each option has advantages and disadvantages. Generally, dental implants are a better option for replacing missing teeth because they are more strong, durable, and last longer than traditional bridges. However, they are more expensive and require a surgical procedure. Implants require a long healing period, which can take from 2 to 4 months, depending on the quality of the jawbone.
Traditional bridges are less invasive than implants and you can get a bridge for bottom teeth within 2 weeks. However, traditional bridges are not suitable if:
- There are no natural back teeth for support.
- You want to replace more than 3 missing adjacent teeth.
- Traditional bridges are not suitable for an adult with no teeth. In this case, you may need an implant-supported bridge.
If you have one or more missing teeth, consult your dentist to know which option is suitable for your needs.
Which One Should I Get?
It depends on your needs. You should discuss the different types of teeth replacement options with your dentist and together you can choose which bridge fits you best. there are several factors to consider before choosing such as:
- Number and loaction of missing teeth: if you have more than 3 adjacent missing teeth or no posterior natural teeth for support, your dentist may recommend an implant-supported bridge.
- Material: dental bridges can be made of metal, porcelain, or a combination of both.
- Durability: implant-supported tend to last longer than traditional bottom teeth bridges.
- Cost: implant-supported bridges are more expensive.
- The complexity of the procedure: the placement of implants requires a surgical procedure while traditional bridges can be fixed in place without any surgery.
Bottom Teeth Bridge – Conclusion
It’s important to speak with your dentist about the bottom teeth bridge options that will best serve your needs. If you’re looking for a long-lasting, attractive restoration, then implant-supported bridges could be right for you! This type is more expensive, but it offers great aesthetic appeal and durability along with easy maintenance.
However, if you want something less invasive and less expensive than implants, traditional bottom teeth bridges may be better suited to your specific situation. It’s wise to consider all factors before deciding on the best course of treatment. We hope this article answers your question about the bottom teeth bridge.
