Dental Bridges
Restore Your Smile With a Dental Bridge
Dental bridges do exactly what their name implies — they bridge the gap left by a missing tooth or teeth. When you lose a tooth for any reason, it’s important that you get a dental bridge, an implant, or dentures to fill in that gap so that your other teeth do not move around. Missing teeth can also make it difficult to speak or eat. A bridge is one of the more permanent options that allows you to keep your smile intact without undergoing an invasive procedure. Contact your New Jersey dentists at Century Dental or Seaview Dental to discuss your dental options for a missing tooth.
Benefits of Dental Bridges
Restore your smile
Help maintain the shape of your face
Improve your ability to eat and speak
Prevent teeth from shifting
Provide a lower cost option than implants
What Is a Dental Bridge?
A dental bridge fills in the gap that is left when you are missing a tooth or teeth. It’s important to fill in that space or you could be left with slurred speech and trouble eating. Missing teeth can also cause your remaining teeth to shift, change the shape of your face, or even cause facial collapse in severe cases.
Although there are several different types of dental bridges, a traditional bridge is held up by placing a crown on the surrounding teeth for support. When a missing tooth only has teeth on one side of it, crowns may be placed on the two teeth on the same side for extra support.
What Is the Process for Getting a Dental Bridge?
Dental Bridges typically require two visits, one for preparation and one for installation. Your dentist will prepare your teeth and take an impression to make your bridge so that it fits your teeth and doesn’t disrupt your bite. Steps required in getting a dental bridge usually go as follows:
- Make a dental appointment to replace a missing tooth.
- Your dentist will assess your situation, discuss your options, and decide if a bridge is your best choice.
- Once the decision is made for a bridge, your dentist prepares your teeth, by removing some of the enamel from the surrounding teeth to prepare them for crowns.
- Impressions will be taken of your teeth to be used to make your permanent bridge.
- Your dentist will fit you with temporary crowns on the prepared teeth to protect them.
- You will make another appointment for when your bridge is made.
- At this next appointment, your dentist will remove the temporary crowns and clean any debris or adhesive from your teeth.
- Your dentist will fit your bridge to your teeth. It can take several adjustments to get your bridge to fit just right. This is important because it will affect your bite, so be honest with your dentist about how it feels.
- When your bite feels natural and your bridge fits just right, your dentist will permanently cement it on.
- Please make sure to follow your dentist’s aftercare instructions and you will be eating and drinking normally in a few days.