A dental bridge serves as a reliable solution for replacing one or more missing natural teeth, providing both functional and aesthetic benefits. Unlike removable prosthetics, a bridge is a fixed restoration that attaches permanently to adjacent teeth, offering a seamless blend with your natural smile. Custom-crafted to suit each patient’s unique oral anatomy, bridges boast a lifelike appearance and can endure for many years before requiring replacement.
Why Consider a Dental Bridge?
The need for a dental bridge typically arises when a tooth is missing, offering an alternative to surgical implant placement or when a patient isn’t an ideal candidate for implants. Here’s why a bridge might be the right choice:
- Smile Restoration: Bridges restore the fullness of your smile, enhancing both appearance and functionality.
- Prevents Dental Issues: By filling the gap left by a missing tooth, a bridge helps prevent neighboring teeth from shifting or becoming misaligned.
Who is a Candidate for a Dental Bridge?
We will examine your teeth to determine if a fixed bridge is right for you. In order for the bridge to fit properly and securely, it’ll need to be placed over two surrounding teeth. In general, the larger the bridge, the less secure it will be. We may recommend implants to hold a bridge if we feel it is needed.
What Happens During the Dental Bridge Procedure?
The dental bridge procedure unfolds through several steps to ensure a secure and comfortable fit:
- Local Anesthesia: To minimize discomfort, we administer a local anesthetic to numb the treatment area.
- Tooth Preparation: The adjacent teeth are carefully shaped and filed down to create space for the new fixed bridge.
- Impressions: Precise impressions of your teeth are taken to fabricate both a temporary and permanent bridge.
- Temporary Bridge Placement: You’ll receive a temporary bridge to wear while your permanent one is being crafted.
- Permanent Bridge Installation: During a subsequent appointment, the temporary bridge is removed, and the permanent one is securely bonded in place using dental-grade adhesive.
- Final Adjustments: We make any necessary adjustments to ensure proper fit and bite alignment before polishing the bridge.
- Aftercare Instructions: You’ll receive instructions on how to care for your new bridge, including proper brushing and flossing techniques.
At Melissa Dental Studio, we’re committed to restoring your smile’s beauty and functionality with personalized dental bridge solutions. Schedule a consultation with us to explore whether a bridge is the right option for you and experience the benefits of a complete, confident smile.
