What is a roundhouse bridge? Usually, a bridge describes a large structure that stretches over a body of water or some other gap between two edges of land, connecting them. In dentistry, a bridge is a tooth replacement method for one or more missing teeth. Traditional dental bridges have caps on either side that attach to your healthy teeth, with artificial crowns called pontics that fill the gaps in between. Implant bridges don’t require these caps, as the pontics are bonded together to create a row of replacement crowns. These bridges are supported by dental implants we place in your jaw for stability. A roundhouse bridge, however, is an innovative solution to tooth loss that acts like a denture with the natural appearance of an implant bridge.
At East Longmeadow Family Dental Center, we use roundhouse bridges as an alternative to traditional dentures. These sleek restorations replace your teeth while providing an incredibly natural-looking and effective smile. With over 35 years of experience treating patients like you, you can trust us with your care!
Common Issues With Traditional Dentures
Despite their commonality, traditional dentures have many drawbacks that make them less suitable for patients. These issues mostly stem from their instability as a result of jawbone resorption.
When losing teeth, you lose the tooth roots embedded in your jawbone that stimulate it when you bite or chew. Without stimulation, your jawbone will resorb, losing mass and volume over time. This makes for a very unstable foundation, causing your dentures to slip and slide on your gums.
Loose dentures cause various problems, such as:
Denture sores: Because unstable dentures shift around on your gums while you talk and chew, your gums are likely to get irritated. This irritation can become painful sores that make wearing your denture difficult!- Chewing difficulty: Traditional dentures often lack the necessary chewing ability to chew tougher foods. Foods like steak or corn on the cob become almost impossible to break down, resulting in a change of diet. Unfortunately, this can lead to a lack of important nutrients your body needs.
- Denture Discomfort: These prosthetics are bulky and take up a large amount of space in your mouth. The upper denture has a large puck-like base that crosses the roof of your mouth, blocking tastebuds. For many patients, upper dentures are uncomfortable and can even result in gagging as they reach close to the back of your throat. When your denture is loose, this problem only worsens.
Fortunately, East Longmeadow Family Dental Center has a more secure solution. Using dental implants, we can stabilize your denture or replace it with more natural-looking restorations that are just as secure—like a roundhouse bridge!
Understanding the Roundhouse Bridge Solution
Dental implants are titanium posts we place in the jawbone to secure restorations like dentures. At our practice, we use two kinds of dental implants.
Traditional dental implants are large and have many pieces that we must place at separate appointments. Unfortunately, the placement method for these implants is invasive, as we need to make an incision in your gums and use stitches to facilitate healing. This process takes around 4-5 months and may require additional procedures like a bone graft to replace any lost bone due to bone resorption.
On the other hand, mini dental implants are small in diameter and feature a single-piece design. The placement process for these implants is minimally invasive and takes a few weeks rather than months. Using a small pilot hole, we can place mini implants in your bone in just one appointment, saving you time and money. Additionally, these implants require much less bone due to their smaller size, reducing the need for a bone graft. Overall, mini implants are less invasive, less expensive, and much less of a hassle!
These incredible advantages are why we use mini dental implants to secure implant dentures like a roundhouse bridge. Unlike traditional dentures, roundhouse bridges don’t need the bulky pink base, freeing your tastebuds and preventing discomfort. Instead, they rest on mini dental implants that we place strategically around your jawbone.
Our Roundhouse Bridge Options
At East Longmeadow Family Dental Center, we offer two kinds of roundhouse bridges:
Semi-removable roundhouse bridge: Replacing the entire arch of your smile, a roundhouse bridge acts like a traditional denture. However, that is where the similarities end! Instead of relying on your jawbone or a denture base, roundhouse bridges rely on your implants. This provides an incredibly seamless look that resembles your natural smile. These restorations have holes in the bottom that house o-rings, which allow your prosthetic to snap on and off mini implants. However, it’s important to note that you never remove this denture. Only we would remove a semi-removable denture during your routine cleanings.- Non-removable roundhouse bridge: As the name suggests, this prosthetic is never to come out, even at routine checkups. A non-removable roundhouse bridge is cemented on your implants, providing incredibly strong chewing power. With these dentures, you can eat all your favorite foods without restrictions or hesitation. As this restoration also lacks the denture base, they look seamless in your smile. If you are looking for a solution closest to your natural teeth, a non-removable roundhouse bridge may be the restoration for you.
Replace Your Smile With a Natural Looking Roundhouse Bridge!
While a bridge can mean many things, a roundhouse bridge means replacing your whole smile with a stable and naturally looking solution. These sleek restorations lack the traditional denture base and instead rely on mini dental implants for stability. For a more natural-looking, strong, reliable solution, trust East Longmeadow Family Dental Center to provide a roundhouse bridge solution for your smile.
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