Dental Bridges

Benefits of Replacing Missing Teeth?

• Keep your smile intact
• Maintain chewing ability
• Maintain proper speech
• Correct bite
• Support surrounding teeth

What is a Dental Bridge?

A Dental Bridge is a restoration that replaces or spans the space where one or more teeth have been lost.

• FIXED DENTAL BRIDGE – Teeth on either side of the gap are prepared for Dental Crowns and the missing tooth (called the Pontic) is attached to the Dental Crowns. The Dental Bridge (consisting of the Dental Crowns and the Pontic are then cemented to the prepared (abutment) teeth. This is the most common Dental Bridge and gives stability for function as well as esthetics. Of course, we fabricate these bridges out of strong, Ceramic covered with Porcelain, and always matched perfectly to blend in with your natural teeth.
• FIXED DENTAL IMPLANT BRIDGE – This is essentially the same as a conventional Fixed Dental Bridge, except, the abutment teeth are replaced by Dental Implants.
• REMOVABLE DENTAL BRIDGE (Commonly referred to as a Removable Partial Denture) – The missing teeth are attached to a metal framework by pink denture acrylic. The Removable Partial Denture is supported by attachments to natural teeth or Dental Crowns and is held in place by metal clasps. While less costly, they are also less pleasing to look at. They are not esthetic, as the pink denture acrylic and the metal clasps show when you smile. Also, they are much less stable and place external stress and torque on the abutment teeth (teeth the clasps are hooked on to). This can lead to increased risk of decay and loosening of the abutment teeth leading to premature additional tooth loss.