A dental bridge is a series of connected crowns used to fill a gap left by one or more missing teeth. To give the bridge its support, the outer crowns on each end of the bridge are placed over the teeth adjacent to the gap. Dental bridges are a fast and economical way to replace a missing tooth, and require no surgery.
Dental Bridge Procedure Details
As a prosthodontist, Dr. Bhave is a specialist in designing, fabricating and placing dental bridges. She crafts her bridges from a number of high-quality materials, and will select which material to use based on your specific needs. Regardless of the materials used, your bridge will fit comfortably, align perfectly with the rest of your bite and look natural in your smile.
Placing a bridge requires that the teeth on each side of the gap be shaved down slightly so the bridge can be placed over them. This can reduce the strength of those teeth, so Dr. Bhave makes sure these teeth have healthy gum support before placing a bridge. In this way she ensures that the dental bridge will be long-lasting.
To fabricate a bridge that will be natural-looking and long-lasting, Dr. Bhave uses a local dental lab known for producing high-quality restorations that meet her exact specifications. The lab can create a durable and natural-looking bridge from any material she requests, and can precisely match the shade of your other teeth. If needed, a lab technician will see you in person to ensure an exact shade match.
Dental Implants Compared to Dental Bridges
Dental implants are another option for replacing missing teeth. Dental implants are titanium posts inserted into the jaw to act as replacement roots. They are either topped by individual crowns or used to support a dental bridge. Dental implant-supported teeth are very strong and long lasting. They look, feel and function just like natural teeth. You can brush and floss with them just as you would with any other tooth. They also don’t require grinding down of adjacent teeth. When the teeth next to a gap are healthy, dental implants are a better option for replacing the missing tooth or teeth.
Dental implant placement is a surgical procedure and an implant requires adequate bone support to be stable. Sometimes bone grafting may be needed at the implant site to provide the needed bone support. Dental bridges don’t require any bone grafting procedures.
A dental bridge is a faster and more economical option for replacing a missing tooth, as dental bridges require no surgery in order to be placed. Dental bridges can be a good option when the adjacent teeth are in need of restoration themselves or when major bone grafting would be required to place an implant.
Schedule Full Examination to Determine Available Options
Dr. Bhave will conduct a comprehensive oral exam to determine your available options for tooth replacement. She will carefully explain the pros and cons of each option as it applies to your situation, will give you her recommendation and will answer all of your questions. In this way you can make a comfortable and well-informed decision about your treatment.