It can be difficult to feel confident about your smile if you have missing teeth. Fortunately, all is not lost!

Many dental treatments are now available to help restore your missing teeth more quickly and comfortably than ever before, so it's actually a great time to be a dental patient. A dental bridge is one of the tried-and-true options for replacing missing teeth, but it has improved immensely over the years.

Bridge Basics

A dental bridge is also known as a pontic and is permanently placed between two healthy teeth. The bridge is held in place by porcelain crowns. The area on each tooth that will anchor the bridge is called an abutment. Often times an area on each abutment needs to be removed in order to accommodate the width of the crown.

First, impressions will be made and a temporary bridge will be placed to keep your teeth from moving. The temporary is called a dental flipper. It can be attached with a wire or plastic piece that fits in your mouth. This is only temporary until your bridge is ready. Then a dental lab will create a bridge made just for you. Your dentist will place the bridge in your mouth and anchor it to your natural teeth.

Bridge Benefits

There's no doubt that dental bridges can make you feel proud to smile again, but there are also many health benefits to replacing missing teeth.

Missing teeth can cause the surrounding teeth to shift, which may change your bite or make your jaw feel sore. Moving teeth can also increase your chances for gum disease and tooth decay as oral hygiene becomes more difficult to maintain with a mouth filled with shifting teeth. It may also be more difficult to speak.

Although the problems caused by missing teeth can have a domino effect, wearing a dental bridge can help put a stop to them. Be sure to ask your dentist exactly how a dental bridge can benefit you.

Types of Dental Bridges

- Traditional Fixed Bridge -- Most common type of bridge as described above. This restoration will absorb light, creating a natural-looking smile.

- Resin Bonded Bridge -- A less expensive, false tooth fused to metal bands and bonded to abutment teeth with resin, minimizes the amount of preparation needed for adjacent teeth. This type of restoration will actually reflect light, creating an unnatural look.

- Cantilever Bridge -- This is used in areas of your mouth that are under less stress, will anchor false tooth on only one side over one or more adjacent teeth.

Maintaining Your Bridge

A bridge is a permanent solution to missing teeth. Once cemented into your mouth, it cannot move. Good oral hygiene is going to be crucial because you will not be able to remove your new bridge.

In virtually any drug store you can purchase special flossers -- some brand names are BridgeAid® and Glide® Threader Floss. This is special floss that will help you to reach under your replaced teeth. This is going to be paramount to the care of your bridge. Excellent oral hygiene is a must.

If you are missing one or more teeth, a dental bridge might be the right treatment for you. Be sure to visit your dentist to find out if a dental bridge is the permanent solution for your missing teeth.

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