Dental Bridges

If your missing tooth shows when you smile or makes eating a challenge, it can be detrimental to your emotional and physical well-being. Worse, a missing tooth can cause other teeth to shift position.  Missing teeth also create a place that food can collect.  A dental bridge is an affordable and effective way to replace one or more missing teeth to restore a functional, aesthetically pleasing smile. Dental bridges are custom-designed to fill in an empty space with a false tooth (or teeth), to permanently “bridge” the gap.

Benefits of Dental Bridges

A good dental bridge will:

• Prevent other teeth from moving to fill the gap, which can change your bite and lead to a number of problems, including TMD/TMJ
• Restore your full ability to chew and speak
• Restore the function and appearance of your smile
• Keep your bite healthy by properly distributing your bite forces
• Retain the youthful shape of your face

Types of Dental Bridges

A dental bridge places crowns on the teeth adjacent to an empty space, with a pontic (fake tooth) filling in the empty gap. A dental bridge can be made out of several different materials. All-porcelain bridges are ideal for replacing front teeth. Porcelain-fused-to-metal bridges, porcelain baked onto a metal framework, are strong and aesthetically pleasing. All-metal bridges are the strongest, but will obviously not look natural.

The Procedure

Your natural teeth on both sides of the space will be prepared (shaven down slightly) for the placement of dental crowns. An impression will be taken and sent to the lab, which will be used to create your false tooth and precisely-fitting dental crowns. You will wear a temporary bridge or flipper (removable false tooth) while your restoration is being created. During your next appointment, the temporary appliance will be moved and your dental bridge will be permanently cemented to your teeth.

If you are interested in replacing a missing tooth or want more information about dental bridges, please contact the dental team at Aesthetic Dentistry of Valencia to arrange your free consultation and see how we can enhance your smile. Proudly serving patients in Valencia, Santa Clarita, Newhall, Saugus, and San Fernando areas of California.