Bridges

One or more missing teeth can adversely affect the appearance and functionality of your smile.  Dental bridges, like implants and partial dentures, are used to replace missing teeth.  Bridges can reduce your risk of gum disease; help correct some bite issues and even improve your speech.  Prosthetic bridges serve as a reconstruction of a lost tooth.  A typical dental bridge consists of prosthetic crowns supported on the abutment teeth (or implants) connected to the span or spans (fake teeth) – thus replacing missing teeth.  Dental bridges today can be fabricated from a combination of porcelain and metal, porcelain and gold, or exclusively with high-strength metal-free materials such as zirconia or alumina.

During the first visit we will evaluate if you are a candidate for a dental bridge.  If you are we will prepare the teeth required to support the bridge.  If the support teeth are decayed or badly broken down we may have to build them back up before they can be used as support teeth for a bridge.  Your bridge is fabricated based on tooth model by a skilled lab technician so that it precisely fits the prepared teeth.  It is important that your restoration fit perfectly to avoid additional oral health problems such as tooth decay.  While your bridge is being fabricated, your dentist fits you with a temporary bridge so the teeth and gums can be protected from damage until your permanent bridge is ready.  To complete the dental bridge procedure, you must return for a second visit to have the bridge fitted and cemented.

The Dental Bridge Procedure

Visit our “before and after” gallery to see the bridges installed in our office.