Fill the Gap with Dental Bridges at Family Practice Dentistry
A dental bridge is a false tooth used to fill the space left by one or more missing teeth. Leaving a gap untreated can actually put your dental health at risk, since surrounding teeth may gradually shift into the space, altering your bite and potentially leading to discomfort. Dental bridges solve this by using the two neighboring teeth as anchors to hold a false tooth securely in place. Typically, porcelain crowns are fitted over these surrounding teeth, with the false tooth known as a pontic — fused between them.
Types of Dental Bridges
There are three common types of dental bridges used today:
- Traditional Fixed Bridge — The most widely used option, where porcelain crowns are placed over the two teeth on either side of the gap to anchor the false tooth in place. The pontic is usually made from porcelain fused to metal or ceramic.
- Cantilever Bridge — Used when there’s only a tooth on one side of the gap. This option works best in areas of the mouth with lighter chewing pressure, such as the front teeth.
- Resin-Bonded Bridge — In this method, metal bands are bonded to the surrounding teeth using resin to hold a plastic false tooth in place. It’s typically reserved for lower-stress areas of the mouth, like the front teeth.
How It’s Done
Getting a dental bridge typically requires at least two visits. During the first visit, three key steps take place: the surrounding teeth are prepared to receive a crown (which may involve reshaping them slightly), an impression of your teeth is taken and sent to a dental lab to fabricate the bridge and crowns, and finally, a temporary bridge is placed to protect your teeth while the permanent one is being made.
At the second visit, the temporary bridge is removed, and the new permanent bridge is fitted and adjusted for comfort and bite. In some cases, additional visits may be needed to fine-tune the fit.
Comprehensive Care for Your Whole Family
From routine checkups to advanced restorative treatments, Family Practice Dentistry offers a complete range of general, cosmetic, and restorative dental care under one roof. With more than 20 years of hands-on experience, Dr. Kevin J. Welch and his team are dedicated to helping patients of every age achieve a healthier, more confident smile, one visit at a time.
