Losing a tooth does a lot more than just leave you with embarrassing empty space in your smile; it can also have consequences for your quality of life and your overall oral health. You should restore your grin as soon as possible, and a personalized dental bridge can help you do just that. If you have a missing tooth, feel free to reach out to us today to schedule a consultation; Dr. Fitzgerald can help you figure out whether a dental bridge is truly your best choice for replacing your teeth.
Dental bridges are made out of the same materials as dental crowns, but instead of being used to repair damaged teeth, they are instead intended to replace teeth that have been lost altogether. Each bridge is made up of at least one pontic (artificial tooth) suspended between a pair of dental crowns. The pontics serve as the replacement teeth; the crowns will be attached to your natural teeth to keep the prosthesis in place.
When talking about dental bridges, it’s important to note that there are two major kinds: traditional bridges and implant bridges. Each option has its own advantages to consider. To figure out which kind of bridge is right for your smile, you will need to schedule a consultation at our office. Our team can give you a recommendation based on your specific needs.
Traditional dental bridges rely on natural teeth for support. We may suggest a traditional bridge if you have lost one tooth or multiple consecutive teeth. However, we’ll first need to confirm that the teeth on either side of the gap in question are healthy enough to give a bridge the support it needs. Placing a traditional dental bridge typically takes at least two visits.
An implant bridge combines a beautiful, personalized bridge with sturdy dental implant posts that can act as artificial tooth roots. This type of bridge can be used if three or more teeth in a row have been lost. The process of having dental implants placed can take months, but rest assured that the results will be worth it.
The simple act of having a dental bridge placed can benefit your smile in a number of ways:
