Dental Bridges

All of your teeth play an important role in speaking, chewing, and in maintaining proper alignment of other teeth. Tooth loss doesn’t necessarily have to occur as you age, but if you do lose teeth they must be replaced to maintain proper function and health of your mouth. Fortunately, there are options for correcting tooth loss.

A dental bridge attaches artificial teeth to adjacent natural teeth. Bridges are typically permanently attached to those adjacent teeth.

If you’re missing one or more teeth, you may be aware of their importance to your appearance and dental health. Your teeth work together for many daily functions from eating to speaking. With missing teeth, it’s difficult to do these things. Missing teeth can and should be replaced. Fixed bridges are a great treatment option to restore your dental health and appearance.

Why do I need a dental bridge?

Oral function and appearance are important reasons for having a dental bridge. A bridge helps support your lips and cheeks.

Dental health is the most important reason for a bridge. Teeth were designed to complement each other. Unusual stress is placed on the gums and other oral tissues when teeth are missing, causing a number of potentially harmful disorders.

Increased gum disease has proved to be one of the worst side effects of missing teeth and can be minimized with a bridge.

Missing teeth can cause speech disorders as they are used to make many of the sounds we use to speak clearly.

How is a dental bridge attached?

The attachment procedure usually takes two or three appointments to complete. At the first appointment, one of our dentists will prepare the teeth on either side of the gap by removing a portion of the enamel and dentin.

Since the bridge is fabricated very precisely to ensure correct bite and to match the opposing tooth, impressions or a digital scan of your teeth are taken and sent to a custom dental lab where the bridge will be made.

When completed, fixed bridges are typically cemented to the natural teeth next to the space left by the missing tooth. A pontic (false tooth) replaces the lost tooth. Dental crowns are connected to the pontic and are cemented onto the natural teeth, providing support for the bridge.

How do I take care of my bridge?

A strict regimen of brushing and flossing will keep the bridge and surrounding teeth clean. This is of critical importance as the bridge relies on the neighboring teeth for support.

Don’t worry, our knowledgeable team will show you how to maintain your bridge!