What are dental bridges?
Bridges are dental restorations that can improve the function, beauty, and health of your smile if you are missing one or more teeth. A dental bridge can be used to replace one missing tooth or multiple missing teeth in a row. Each dental bridge consists of two dental crowns and one or more artificial teeth. Dr. Anthony Shaia will place the dental crowns on the teeth or dental implants adjacent to the gap to securely anchor the artificial replacement teeth.
Do I need a dental bridge?
You may need a dental bridge if you are missing one or more teeth. Our dentist may recommend a dental bridge to improve your smile by:
- Restoring lost facial volume
- Enhancing the appearance of your smile
- Alleviating stress on the bite
- Replacing a removable partial denture
- Improving your ability to chew, speak, and eat as usual
- Preventing the remaining natural teeth from shifting into the space left by the missing teeth
Bridges are fixed (non-removable) dental restorations. In most cases, a dental bridge in Middleburg Heights, Ohio, can be placed in just two visits to Shaia Dental Care.
What is the process for getting a dental bridge?
For a traditional dental bridge, our doctor and team will remove some enamel from the adjacent teeth, or abutment teeth, to make sure there is enough room for a dental crown. We will then create an impression of your teeth to send to the lab and will give you a temporary bridge.
When you return for your next appointment, we will remove your temporary bridge and fit your crowns to the abutment teeth, and then we will attach your bridge with a resin cement to give you a full smile.
For an implant-supported dental bridge, you will need to receive dental implants. The bridge will be held in place by the implant posts in your dental implants, so it will not be necessary to shape any abutment teeth. After the implant posts have been surgically added to your jaw and you have had the time to heal, we will attach the new dental crowns on top of your implant posts to anchor your dental bridge and restore your smile.
To learn more about dental bridges and our other tooth replacement options, please call or visit us soon.