Dental bridges are an excellent way to replace missing teeth. Patients who visit our office often do so because they have lost one or several teeth and are looking for the right way to replace them. There are multiple options that are available to patients depending on their budget and oral health. These include:
These are the three most common ways to replace missing teeth. In order to determine the most effective solution, we will need to know the needs of the patient. Dental bridges are one such example of a restoration that can truly benefit a patient.
A dental bridge is a semi-permanent way to replace one or several missing teeth. While a dental bridge is not a surgical procedure like a dental implant, the dental bridge does provide a secure way to replace teeth. Essentially, natural teeth will be the support or anchor for a bridge to replace the lost teeth. We create a gum-like base in the lab and secure the new teeth to it. To hold the bridge in place, we place crowns on two of the patient's natural teeth.
Those teeth support the bridge and ensure that it is held in place and not removable. This is why many patients prefer dental bridges to dentures. Dental bridges do not come out, require extra care and do not increase the risk of falling out. This makes it possible for patients to engage in an active lifestyle and to eat foods that may be difficult with traditional dentures.
A dental bridge should also look very natural. We take great care to match the shade of the gum base and of the new teeth with the shade of the teeth in the mouth. This way, it looks so natural that people will be unable to tell the difference between the synthetic teeth and the natural ones. Our goal is to provide our patients with restorative solutions that look completely natural, comfortable, durable and reliable.
To find out if this solution is a good fit for your needs, call our office and schedule an appointment. We will conduct an examination and take X-rays before determining if the adjacent teeth are strong enough to support the bridge. If the teeth are strong enough, we can take measurements and an impression of the teeth to create the bridge in the dental lab. We will need to prepare the adjacent teeth and remove a portion of their enamel.
Once complete, we may need to apply temporary crowns. Once the bridge is ready, the patient will return for placing the permanent crowns and securing the bridge. At the end of the process, the patient will have a natural looking restorative solution that is virtually unnoticeable.
If a bridge is not the right solution, we can discuss dental implants as an alternative. These are surgically placed and ultimately, the most durable way to replace missing teeth. To learn more about this option, visit our office today.
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