When Would I Need a Dental Bridge?
Gaps from missing teeth can impact your bite, your appearance and your speech. Remaining teeth can shift, causing further disruption, pain and an increased likelihood of gum disease. as tilted teeth are increasingly difficult to keep clean. A dental bridge solves these problems by filling any gaps with an artificial tooth that is anchored to your natural teeth.
A bridge will require crowns on the teeth at both sides of the space being filled. The procedure for fitting you with a bridge is similar to the one for a crown. The process involves making impressions, shaping the teeth and fitting the bridge. We will insert a temporarily cemented bridge while the permanent bridge is being fabricated by the lab.
Permanent or Removable Dental Bridges?
A bridge can be a permanent replacement which is adhered in place to existing teeth, or it can be a removable piece which uses neighboring teeth as anchors. Permanent or fixed bridges provide stability and durability and can feel like your own teeth, while removable bridges (also known as partial dentures) are easier to clean, cheaper and may be a better choice if the teeth on either side of the gap are not in good condition. As always, we focus on keeping any discomfort to a minimum. Getting a crown or bridge is typically not painful, though you may experience some sensitivity following the preparations.