When is a Dental Bridge Used to Replace Teeth?

If you’re missing one or more teeth, you’re probably looking into your options for finding a suitable way to restore your smile. If you qualify, you may be pleased to learn about the possibility of having your mouth fitted with a dental bridge by our own Northridge dentist. Dental bridges are a great way to safely and subtly replace one or more teeth in a row, especially if they happen to be molars.

What is a dental bridge exactly? A dental bridge is just what the name implies – it is a restorative fixture used to bridge the gap or gaps left remaining after losing one or more teeth through some circumstance or another. They contain two major parts – a pontic or multiple pontics, which are the false tooth or teeth that will replace the lost one(s); and two dental crowns on either side, also called abutments, which anchor the entire apparatus in position. This device allows our dentist to place the bridge securely, even if there is nothing left remaining in the gap.

During your first appointment, our dentists will assess you as a possible candidate. They will inspect the area surrounding the missing tooth carefully, making sure that the healthy teeth on either side will be able to stand up against the duress of day-to-day oral activity. Once you are deemed eligible, the task of prepping the teeth for the procedure will begin. The area will be cleaned thoroughly and our dentist will sculpt the teeth on either side to make room for the eventual abutments to be placed over the top. At this stage, physical impressions and x-rays of your mouth will be taken and the data gathered will be sent to a dental lab where the bridge will be manufactured; you will most likely be given a temporary bridge to wear in the meantime. During your next appointment, our dentist will affix the bridge to your teeth using a special type of light-sensitive cement. After making any necessary tweaks or adjustments, you’ll be free to enjoy your new bridge just as you did the tooth or teeth that came before.

Our expert in dental bridges in Northridge can easily answer any of your questions and assuage any potential concerns you may have. Give us a call and we will help you find the option which best suits your needs.