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Dental Health and Food: Learning to Eat Better

My intense love for candy, cakes, and everything in between started as a child. I simply couldn't go one day without something sweet to eat. But my love for all things sweet took a toll on my teeth. My dentist diagnosed me with seven cavities, each one a different size and depth. After sitting through four long dental appointments, I decided to make a change. I now monitor my diet and only eat things that benefit my oral health. I'm here to help you take better care of your teeth. My blog offers tips on how to improve your diet, maintain good oral hygiene, and many other topics. Hopefully, you can learn to overcome your bad habits just as I did. Good luck with your future dental health.

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Dental Health and Food: Learning to Eat Better

Why You May Not Want To Choose A Maryland Bridge Over A Fixed Option

by Eric Bailey

If you are missing a tooth, then you should speak to your dentist about the different options you have when it comes to tooth replacement. Your dentist may suggest a bridge over a dental implant if you are not in optimal health or if you are simply a poor candidate for dental surgery. There are several different bridges you can choose from, and a fixed porcelain bridge is often the best choice over something like a simple Maryland bridge. Keep reading to learn about some of the negative aspects of the bridge so you can make a more informed decision about a fixed bridge.

The Bridge Can Loosen

Fixed bridges are considered permanent and are made with two solid crowns that fit over the teeth. Maryland bridges do not secure with the assistance of crowns. They instead have two attached wings made from metal. These wings sit on the right and left side of the artificial replacement tooth. To secure the wings in place, your dentist will use a bonding material to set or glue the wings to the backs of the teeth.

Since the Maryland bridge wings are secured with a bonding material, they can loosen over time. The bonding agent is resin and very similar to the material used to secure tooth-colored fillings in the teeth. While the resin is cured with a UV light and meant to be quite strong, it is not nearly as strong as enamel or a bonded crown.

Since Maryland bridges can loosen, they are often called temporary bridges. While they are temporary, they still require a bit of drilling along the back edges of the teeth so the wings can sit correctly. This means the teeth are likely to be damaged at least a small amount and the damage is permanent even if the bridge is not.

The Bridge Cannot Retain As Much Stress

Regular fixed dental bridges are able to retain a great deal of stress and pressure and much of the pressure is spread out over the three sections of the device. Specifically, the artificial tooth and the two crowns absorb bite stress and this helps to keep the device in good shape over a long period of time.

Since the artificial tooth and the wings of the Maryland bridge are not strongly attached, the device can retain very little stress. This means that it can be difficult or impossible to bite down on hard and chewy foods once the bridge is secured. If you do place stress on the bridge, the artificial tooth can bear down on the gums and cause discomfort.

Contact a dental office like Crest Hill Family Dental for more information and assistance. 

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