At our Dallas dental clinic, we use dental bridges to fill spaces that form due to lost teeth. They are a wonderful solution and can close gaps in your smile. If you are looking for a restorative dental treatment that will bring the look and function of your smile back to its natural state, this could be for you!
Learn About Dental Bridges
A bridge is comprised of crowns cemented on either side of a false tooth, which will fill the gap, and the crowns will support it and help it blend in. Usually, a patient who is interested in this form of treatment will be missing a tooth.
Missing teeth are most commonly a result of untreated injuries, decay, or gum disease. This can all be avoided by coming in to see your Dallas dentist regularly! Alternatively, some patients are born with gaps. Bridges can be used to solve any of these issues. All you need is healthy teeth surrounding the missing ones!
So why might a dental bridge be a solution you should consider? When you are missing a tooth, the surrounding ones may move into the empty space. This can eventually affect your bite and chewing, cause pain from extra stress placed on your jaw, and make you lack confidence in your smile.
Bridges are one of the most effective preventative measures for these problems. At East Quarter Dental, we want to make sure each and every one of our patients is able to live their lives with ease. Pain in your mouth or lack of confidence due to spaces in your smile can affect your overall quality of life. A dental bridge could be the answer you’re looking for!
The process of placing a bridge usually involves at least two visits to our Dallas dental office. The three steps that make up the procedure are as follows:
- Your Dallas dentist will prepare the abutment teeth, which are those surrounding your new bridge. Preparing them consists of reshaping them by removing part of the enamel and dentin. This will make room for the crowns.
- Impressions will be taken. Your dentist will digitally scan your mouth. This scan will be used as a model to create your bridge. A temporary one will be provided to protect any exposed areas in your smile while the permanent one is being made.
- Finally, you will come back to our Dallas dental clinic to have your permanent bridge placed! The temporary will be removed, and your dentist will check to ensure that no adjustments need to be made before it is cemented. Once everything is confirmed, your smile will be as good as new!
There are four main types of dental bridges. Traditional fixed bridges are the most widely used and consist of two or more crowns supporting the filler. They are generally made of porcelain. If you only have teeth on one side of your gap, a cantilever bridge will support your fillers by anchoring to one abutment tooth.
Missing front teeth can be replaced with Maryland dental bridges, which are made of porcelain and metal and supported by a framework. Lastly, implant-supported bridges are very similar to the traditional version, except they are supported by implants instead of being cemented in place.
If you or someone you know is dealing with missing or failing teeth, dental bridges could be the perfect solution. Our Dallas dental office offers treatment to surrounding neighborhoods in the Dallas community, such as Highland Park and Lake Highlands. We would love to serve you! Call us at (469) 943-1400 to learn more and have your questions answered.