Dental Bridge

What is a dental bridge?

A dental bridge is what it sounds like: it bridges the gap between missing teeth. Whether you are relying on surrounding teeth or dental implants to support the bridge, a dental bridge restores the appearance and function of your smile while enhancing your oral health.

Benefits of dental bridges

When it comes to tooth replacement options, you really can’t go wrong with anyone—as long as you choose to replace your teeth.

• Restores the appearance of your smile
• Restores your ability to chew and speak effectively
• Supports facial muscles to maintain the shape of your face
• Promotes oral health by preventing your other teeth from moving and bone loss
• Even distribution of force when you bite to protect your other teeth from premature damage

Why replace missing teeth with a dental bridge?

Missing teeth leave holes in your mouth that will change the shape of your face because your jawbone will not support your lips, cheeks, and facial muscles the same way. Missing teeth also make eating and speaking difficult, and it can cause other overall oral health problems; therefore, it is imperative to replace missing teeth.

If the gap of a missing tooth or missing teeth is left open too long, the surrounding teeth may move into that space, and the teeth on the opposing jawbone may move up or down, changing your bite and making it more difficult to clean the teeth, thus making them more susceptible to gum disease and tooth decay.

A dental bridge, however, can prevent these problems by filling in the gap left by the missing teeth, supporting your jawbone, and keeping the surrounding teeth in place.

Types of dental bridges

Fixed Bridge: A fixed bridge is a bridge that takes advantage of the support provided by the teeth on either side of the missing tooth. During an initial visit, our dentists at Bliss Family Dentistry will prepare the surrounding teeth by removing a small amount enamel to ready your teeth for crowns. Since these teeth will be providing support for the artificial tooth with crowns, those teeth will always need to be protected by crowns, even if you should choose a different type of bridge later on. Once your custom-made bridge returns from our lab, your El Paso dentist will cement it in place.

Implant-Supported Bridge: an implant-supported bridge relies on one or more dental implants to support your bridge. Once your implants are placed and healed, your dentist will cement the bridge on top of the implants. Implants do not require support from the surrounding teeth, meaning that the surrounding teeth do not need to have any enamel removed; however, it is a surgical procedure and will take longer to complete.

At Bliss Family Dentistry, your dentist will work closely with you to determine the best type of bridge for you and your budget.

What to expect when getting a dental bridge

When you come in for your dental bridge, our dental team will perform a thorough examination with x-rays and an oral health assessment and health history. Based on this assessment, you will decide which type of bridge is best for you, determining what you can expect during your procedure.

For more traditional bridges, you can likely expect a few visits: one where your dentist will prepare your teeth and take impressions and a second where she will place your bridge. If, however, you are opting for an implant-supported bridge, your process will take a little longer since you will need to wait for your jawbone to heal entirely before your fitting your dental bridge.

Our dentists understand how uncomfortable and disruptive having a missing tooth can be, and it is our primary goal to develop a personalized plan to replace your missing tooth and ensure that you receive the high-quality dental care that you deserve.

If you want to know more about how a dental bridge can replace your missing tooth or missing teeth, call Bliss Family Dentistry today or use the convenient button below to schedule your appointment.