When a tooth is lost, you will need to replace what was lost so that you do not compromise the function of the oral cavity. However small, the oral cavity serves a very vital function for every person and it is essential that you replace your tooth or teeth with a dental bridge or a removable denture, if you want to maintain your smile, your bite, your speech and your masticatory function. When a tooth is lost and it is not replaced, all kinds of changes occur in the mouth. Teeth may drift, tip and move; the bite may collapse and TMJ problems may develop. It does not seem so threatening at first, but when you know what you are really dealing with, you will take dental prosthetics seriously.

The Dental Bridge and the Removable Dentures

A dental bridge is a linked-up dental crown. A crown covers the entire tooth so some tooth preparation will be required; and when a dental bridge is designated to replace a tooth or a few teeth that have been lost, the existing teeth are made to support the prosthesis, so these teeth have to be reduced. A removable denture requires no tooth significant tooth preparation. An impression is taken so that the cast can be created from it, and the prosthesis is designed around whatever teeth are present.

If you are making a decision which prosthetic option is best for you, the dental bridge or removable denture, here are some things you can consider:

• When you are dealing with a short span edentulism or when only a few teeth are missing, the perfect solution will have to be a dental bridge. A denture is more applicable for long span edentulism because it can cover larger areas and cross the arch. Installing a removable denture on a short span loss will be impractical.

• In terms of comfort and ease of wear and function, you can trust that a dental bridge is going to be a better choice compared to the removable denture because it is a fixed prosthetic. The dental bridge is cemented to the teeth quite permanently and not merely placed on the mouth there is no danger of it getting dislodged while your speak or eat.

• Aesthetic considerations are better satisfied by dental bridges, too. The dental bridge is installed onto the tooth, with edges tucked inside the gums, giving it an appearance so close to that of the natural teeth, so that when you smile it is almost hard to tell if you are wearing a prosthetic. With the removable denture, you have the pink acrylic base, the clasps and rests that often show on the patient’s smile. This is not going to be a problem with a dental bridge so you will surely be impressed with the results.

• Surely in terms of cost a removable denture is going to be cheaper, given that the materials used for denture fabrication are cheaper than that of dental bridges, but what you look here are results. A removable denture may never be able to rival with a dental bridge unless the installation of a bridgework is completely contraindicated.

• The amount of tooth reduction involved with the fabrication of dental bridges can be an issue, but understand that you are not exactly losing a tooth here. With good oral hygiene and maintenance, the abutment teeth can be well-preserved in the mouth.