Natural-Looking Dental Bridges - Dentist Near Me

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Bridges

How can you replace a missing or pulled tooth? A dental bridge is an option to fill the gap caused by a missing tooth. A bridge is typically supported by a crown on each side of the missing tooth- these anchor teeth are the supporting teeth. The supporting teeth on either side of the gap is why this restoration is called a “bridge”, and the missing tooth is replaced with an artificial tooth. It is made to look just like the natural missing tooth, and is cemented permanently in place.

Advantages

Before replacing teeth with implants, bridges were widely chosen for tooth replacement, because they are permanently cemented, and don’t need to be removed at night.

What are the advantages to replacing a missing tooth with a bridge? By replacing missing teeth, you help your overall bite remain stable, and prevent shifting of nearby teeth. This can also help improve your ability to eat the foods you love, smile with confidence, and help with speech. A bridge is a permanent solution to a missing tooth that does not involve surgery, so patient’s that are not a candidate for implant surgery due to medical reasons may have success with a bridge.

Maintenance

Are there any risks or complications? A bridge is cemented onto natural teeth, so these teeth must remain healthy to support the missing tooth. These teeth must be prepared as crowns to support the bridge, but they can fracture or develop bone loss or decay if they are not cared for properly. Greater attention to flossing and brushing is needed to keep the abutments, or anchor teeth, healthy and clean. Your dental team can show you techniques to clean around the bridge with tools like a floss threader or a Water Pik.

Missing Teeth

It is important that a missing tooth be replaced as soon as possible for several reasons. If not treated, the teeth surrounding the missing tooth gap may begin to shift. The adjacent teeth may also start to wear down or fracture due to the extra stress being applied when chewing. Your team at Garden Ridge Center for Dentistry can help you with a plan to see if you are a candidate for a bridge to replace a missing tooth!