Bridges

It can be difficult to feel confident about your smile if you have missing teeth. Many dental treatments are now available to help restore your missing teeth more quickly and comfortably than ever before.

What is a Bridge?

Dental bridges literally bridge the gap created by one or more missing teeth. Bridges are natural-looking tooth replacements which help maintain facial structure, reduce stress on the jaw, and fill in the gaps caused by missing teeth.

A bridge is made up of at least two crowns for the teeth on either side of the gap(s) and the false tooth/teeth in between. The anchoring teeth are called abutment teeth and the false teeth are called pontics. All of these can be made from gold, alloys, porcelain, or a combination of these materials. Dental bridges are supported by natural teeth and/or implants and are sometimes referred to as Fixed Partial Dentures as they form a stable, non-removable unit.

Benefits

Not only do bridges fulfill a cosmetic role by improving your smile, but they also have several health benefits.

Missing teeth can cause the surrounding teeth to shift, which may change your bite or make your jaw feel sore. Moving teeth can also increase your chances for gum disease and tooth decay as oral hygiene becomes more difficult to maintain with a mouth filled with teeth that are shifting. Missing teeth can also make it more difficult to chew or speak.

A dental bridge can help put a stop to the domino effect of problems causes by missing teeth.