Having one or more missing teeth can have a serious effect on your dental health. Missing teeth can cause:

• A shift in the alignment of your teeth
• Increased risk of periodontal disease
• Increased risk of tooth decay
• Loss of adjacent teeth
• Speech disorders
• Temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ)

Dental bridges are used to replace missing a missing tooth and are supported by the teeth on either side called abutment teeth.

Placing bridges serves a restorative purpose. A dental bridge will improve your ability to chew and speak as well as smile.  Dental bridges also have been shown to reduce the risk of losing teeth that are adjacent to a missing tooth.  Dental bridges can help keep your jaw and face from changing shape.

Types of bridges include:

• Cantilever bridges are used to replace a tooth that does not have supporting teeth on both sides of the affected area.
• Maryland bonded bridges include artificial teeth and gums, and are held in place by a metal frame.
• Traditional bridges are the most common, and literally bridge the gap of an empty tooth space by securing a false tooth using crowns on the teeth on either side.

Installing a dental bridge is usually completed in two visits.  If you are candidate for a bridge, your teeth will be prepared by reshaping or reconstructing decayed or damaged areas. Then dentist will take an impression of your teeth, a lab will cast a mold, and give you a temporary bridge to wear. On the second visit, the mold is fitted to your teeth and any  corrections or adjustments are made.

Dental bridges can last a lifetime if you maintain good oral hygiene by brushing and flossing regularly.

For more information or to receive a consultation, please contact us today.