Dental Bridge

Restore Missing Teeth with a Dental Bridge

Do you have missing teeth? If you have lost a single tooth or have several missing teeth, you will need to undergo a tooth replacement procedure sooner than later. Replacing missing teeth not only helps to restore your smile but can also prevent oral health problems throughout your lifetime.

Even if the missing tooth is in the back of your mouth, you might experience bite problems, shifting teeth, and other oral health issues without the right tooth replacement procedure.

Some of the reasons we recommend a dental bridge include:

  • Fill in gaps with a natural-looking tooth structure

  • Restore alignment in the mouth

  • Prevent gum disease and temporomandibular joint disorders (TMJ)

  • Prevent adjacent teeth from shifting or rotating

  • Allows you to chew food and speak properly

  • Reduces stress on the jaw

  • Improves the aesthetics of your smile

 
 

If you are missing teeth and want to explore tooth replacement options, schedule your consultation today!

More about bridge fabrication

Bridgework involves connecting two crowns on either side of the missing tooth with a replacement tooth. The adjacent teeth provide support for the bridge and may need to be ground down to accommodate the new tooth structure. The adjacent teeth must be able to accept this treatment. We are careful to only do bridgework on patients where it is appropriate and to use the most advanced, long-lasting materials.

We can use several materials to make the artificial tooth for the bridge, including gold, porcelain, alloys, or a combination of these materials. In some cases, dental implants can serve as anchors for a bridge.

The procedure typically requires multiple visits. You can expect to come in for a preparation visit first where we will make room for a crown and placement of a temporary bridge. The second visit involves placing the fixed dental bridge and future visits may involve checking and adjusting the bite. The final visit will involve cementing the bridge in place.


Types of Bridges

THERE ARE THREE MAIN TYPES OF BRIDGES, AND THE TYPE WE RECOMMEND WILL DEPEND ON YOUR UNIQUE SITUATION. THE THREE TYPES ARE:

Traditional bridges

Usually made with porcelain fused to metal or ceramics (most common type)

Cantilever bridges

Necessary when there is only one adjacent tooth available for support

Maryland bonded bridges

Made of plastic teeth and gums that are placed within a metal framework