The purpose of the dental bridge is to replace one or more teeth in a row and to fill the gap left by the missing teeth. A dental bridge has two crowns on both sides of the restoration with a false tooth or teeth in the middle. The crowns are placed over a nearby healthy tooth to help support and anchor the bridge into place.
James Warren Dental uses metal-free dental bridges crafted from porcelain and Zirconia to replace your missing tooth. The artificial tooth or teeth in the middle, also called pontics, can be made from materials such as gold or porcelain.
Dental bridges are a great option for many people looking to restore their smile and improve the ability to chew or speak, which are often affected by tooth loss. Also, because natural teeth begin to shift into the open gap left by the missing tooth, getting a dental bridge prevents teeth from moving out of place and affecting the overall structure and shape of your face. A bridge also improves your bite after tooth loss so that other teeth don’t become damaged or worn down due to an uneven bite.
Dental Bridge Process
When you come into our Millbrae, CA dental office to get a bridge, Dr. Warren will need to examine your smile and make sure your mouth is healthy enough for treatment. Next, we will need to prepare the two natural teeth on each side of the gap so that they are ready for a crown. These teeth are shaved down to make room for the crown.
Then, we will take impressions of your teeth and a dental laboratory will take these impression and make your custom dental bridge to fit your mouth. In the meantime, a temporary bridge will be worn until your permanent one is ready.
During your next visit to James Warren Dental, the temporary bridge will be removed and the permanent bridge will be fitted and adjusted. It may take a couple visits to make sure that the bridge fits properly and that your bite isn’t affected. Once we have determined that your bridge is a good fit, it will be cemented into place.