If you are missing one or more teeth, then a dental bridge can help make your smile whole. A bridge rests on your natural teeth or on dental implants for support and it suspends one or more false teeth over the spots where your missing teeth used to be. Dental bridges are also known as “fixed bridges” or even “fixed partial dentures” because they are permanently fastened in place to give you a secure and stable bite.
Why Get a Dental Bridge?
A gap in your smile is more than just an eyesore–it’s also a potential health concern. An empty space leaves room for the surrounding teeth to drift out of place. If they do, your remaining natural teeth can wind up in positions that predispose them to developing cavities or gum disease. A dental bridge is an excellent way you can both maintain the alignment of your teeth and enjoy a complete and confident smile.
Here are some of the benefits of replacing your missing teeth with a bridge:
Comfort
A dental bridge is quite comfortable as your restoration will be custom-designed to fit your mouth perfectly. You will be able to eat and speak with ease, and you won’t have to deal with a loose removable prosthetic that has the potential to shift out of place.
Health
By replacing lost teeth with a dental bridge, you could help improve the health of your remaining natural teeth. The bridge will prevent your other teeth from drifting into unhealthy positions. When your teeth stay in proper alignment, it will be easy to keep them clean and healthy, free of diseases like tooth decay and periodontitis. You may even be able to prevent uneven enamel wear on your teeth as a dental bridge will allow you to chew normally on both sides of your mouth.
Confidence
The most immediate benefit a dental bridge could give you is a boost to your self-confidence. A bridge instantly fills in the unsightly gap and helps you smile without worrying that others are looking at the empty space.
The Cost Of A Dental Bridge In Allentown
Insurance coverage varies by company and benefit plan. At the time of your visit, a more accurate estimate can be given. Without insurance coverage, the out-of-pocket cost could be $5,000 or even $5,900.
Some of the factors that influence the cost of your bridge include:
- The number of teeth you need to replace with a bridge
- The material used to make your bridge
- Which area in your mouth you need to get a bridge
- The health and strength of the teeth that will be supporting your bridge
- Whether you need any additional procedures to prepare your mouth for a bridge (E.g. dental implants or tooth extractions)
We would be happy to provide you with a custom quote for the cost of your dental bridge. We can only do this after we have had the chance to examine your mouth, however. Your oral health care needs are unique to your individual situation, so we will provide you with an estimate after we’ve examined your teeth and considered all the factors like those listed above. If you have dental insurance, we can provide you with a quote that you can submit for approval before going ahead with your treatment.
Contact Us Today
to schedule an initial consultation & exam.
During your consultation, the dentist will carefully examine your teeth, gums, and the fit of your bite to find out if a dental bridge is the ideal tooth replacement solution for you. We want to hear about your vision for your smile, so we’ll talk with you about your goals and discuss treatment options that can help you make those dreams a reality.
Frequently Asked Questions
A fixed bridge is one that is permanently attached to your mouth when the dentist cements it to dental implants or your natural teeth. A removable bridge is another name for a partial denture. This is an appliance that replaces one or more teeth, and you can put it in and take it out as needed. Additionally, a fixed bridge usually replaces just the missing teeth while a removable bridge, or partial denture, usually has some gum-colored material around the replacement teeth to help fill in the gap and make the teeth look more natural.
A cantilever bridge is one that is only supported on one side. While one end of the bridge rests on an adjacent tooth, the other end isn’t anchored to anything; the replacement tooth just hovers over the empty space with nothing to support it on that side. This kind of bridge isn’t very common because it can’t bear much biting force. Biting down too hard on the unsupported end could put structural tension on the tooth that is supporting the other end of the bridge. However, a cantilever dental bridge sometimes comes in handy in situations where it’s neither necessary nor practical to place a full traditional bridge, but the patient still wants to fill in the gap in their smile with a permanent restoration.
You’ll likely only need to have two appointments of less than an hour each to get a bridge. At your first appointment, the dentist will check your teeth and prepare the ones that will support the bridge. Then the dentist will take a scan or mold of your teeth which will be used as a cast to design your bridge. At the next appointment, your new bridge will be cemented in place.
Dental bridges can be made from a variety of materials including porcelain and precious metals such as gold alloys. The most popular type of material these days is porcelain because it delivers the most realistic finish.
A dental crown is a restoration that completely covers a tooth to reinforce and protect it. A bridge is essentially multiple dental crowns fused together. While a single crown can repair a single tooth, the purpose of a bridge is to replace one or more teeth. A bridge typically consists of two crowns that have a false tooth suspended between them. When you get a bridge, the supporting teeth will need to be fitted with crowns whether they need the repair or not as the crowns are necessary for anchoring the bridge in place.
Yes, zirconia is a material that is often used in dentistry to create ultra-strong restorations. But you’ll have to meet with a dentist in person to find out which material is best for your custom dental bridge.
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