Dental Bridges

At Oral Implants and Reconstructive Dentistry, we're proud to provide our patients with comprehensive restorative dental care designed to enhance smiles and lives while supporting good oral health. Dental bridges are a popular smile restoration solution. With a dental bridge, a patient with missing or damaged teeth can restore their smile to its complete form and full function while protecting the health of their remaining natural teeth.  

What Is a Dental Bridge?

A dental bridge is a prosthetic dental restoration designed to restore a smile that is missing one or several consecutive teeth. Dental bridges typically consist of two anchors (made from dental crowns or dental implants) and a pontic (bridge of replacement teeth) that floats in between. Dental bridges are designed to look and feel like natural teeth, enhancing the form, function, and health of a person's smile.  

Who Can Benefit from a Dental Bridge?

An excellent restorative solution, dental bridges are recommended for patients who are missing one or more teeth in a row but who still have most of their teeth and do not require dentures. Patients with significantly damaged or decayed teeth may also benefit from tooth extraction and restoration with a dental bridge.  

The Dental Bridge Treatment Process

The treatment process always begins with an examination, consultation, and diagnostic images. During this appointment, we help our patient determine the type of dental bridge that will best meet their needs and devise an overall treatment plan.

The dental bridge treatment process can vary significantly depending on the type of dental bridge you are receiving. For example, a Maryland bonded bridge requires the least preparatory work, while a dental bridge anchored by crowns requires the anchor teeth to be prepared for placement and an implant-supported dental bridge requires the patient first to undergo the process of getting dental implants.  

Depending on the type of dental bridge you are receiving, our dentists will discuss the treatment steps with you and answer any questions you might have about the process.  

How Long Do Dental Bridges Last?

Dental bridges are made from high-quality, durable materials such as porcelain and acrylic. With proper care, good oral hygiene, and routine dental exams, most dental bridges last an average of 15 years or more. To prolong the life of a dental bridge, we recommend avoiding chewing on hard objects or ice, tobacco use of any kind, and protecting your dental restoration during athletic activities with an athletic mouthguard.  

Your dental bridge might need to be repaired or replaced if you notice any of the following signs of a damaged dental bridge:

• Chipped, cracked, or broken

• Becomes stained or discolored

• Feels loose inside your mouth

• No longer fits your bite properly

If you have any issues with an existing dental bridge, our experienced restorative dentists can work with you to repair or replace your bridge with a new, long-lasting restoration.  

Dental Bridges with Your Reconstructive Dentistry Experts in Lewis Center

Living with missing teeth not only takes a toll on your quality of life, but it can also harm the health of your jawbone and natural teeth. For this reason, we always recommend replacing teeth that have been lost or significantly damaged.  

To learn more about dental bridges and all of your options for dental restoration, we welcome you to contact Oral Implants and Reconstructive Dentistry. Our team will be happy to help you find the best solution for your smile restoration.