Dental Bridges – Silver Spring, MD
Replace Several Missing Teeth All at Once
All of your teeth play a very important role when it comes to things like speaking, chewing, and ensuring that your smile looks dazzling! This means that it’s vital to quickly replace any teeth that are lost. Fortunately, there are many tooth-replacement solutions, including dental bridges, that can effectively replace several missing teeth all at once, restoring your smile and functionality. Continue reading to learn more about dental bridges and some of their awesome benefits. Feel free to call us today to schedule a consultation so that we can see if a dental bridge is the best option for getting your smile back to looking its best.
What Is a Dental Bridge?
Unlike a crown, which is intended to restore the structure and function of a damaged tooth, a dental bridge is a device that’s used to close the gap left behind by a missing tooth or multiple missing teeth. It permanently anchors the artificial tooth (or teeth) to the adjacent, existing teeth and jaw, successfully filling in the open gap.
Restoring oral functionality is the most important reason for getting a bridge. Since teeth are naturally designed to support each other, having missing teeth can place unusual stress on the gums and other oral tissues, which increases the likelihood of gum disease, dental drift, and other potentially harmful disorders.
Dental bridges are natural-looking and don’t feel awkward or uncomfortable once they’ve been added, thanks to the careful impressions taken of your mouth beforehand. They’re normally assembled from gold alloys, non-precious alloys, porcelain, or any combination of these materials.
Types of Dental Bridges
The only way to determine which type of bridge is best for you is by visiting us for a consultation—after all, every smile is different! We’re proud to offer traditional dental bridges and implant bridges. Here’s a little more about what you can expect from each:
Traditional Dental Bridges
For patients missing one or several teeth in a row, traditional dental bridges are one of the easiest ways to close the gap. First, we’ll place a dental crown on either side of the gap and “bridge” the space with pontics (artificial teeth), before cementing your restoration in place so that it remains there for many years to come. While this method does require a slight alteration of your existing adjacent teeth, it all but ensures lasting success and a normal-looking appearance.
Implant Bridges
While traditional dental bridges rely on healthy adjacent teeth for support, implant bridges are directly affixed to your jawbone with the assistance of dental implants. Due to this impressive level of stability, your restoration will have a much longer lifespan, feel more natural, and return more of your biting power! Better yet, implant bridges don’t require any alterations to your existing surrounding teeth.
The Benefits of Getting a Dental or Implant-Supported Bridge
When you receive a dental bridge, you’re gaining access to several awesome benefits. Here are just a few examples of the advantages that our bridges can offer patients:
- Bridges are fully customized to blend in seamlessly with your natural smile.
- They’re able to replace one, two, or several missing teeth in a row.
- They restore and improve your chewing power.
- They help prevent future misalignment issues.
- They’re capable of lasting 10+ years with proper care, with implant bridges lasting even longer.
It goes without saying that missing teeth can vastly impact your quality of life, meaning that you shouldn’t hesitate to have them replaced.