Bridges

At Eastgate Dental Excellence, we’re pleased to provide our patients with a wide range of services designed to restore their smile’s natural function and appearance, including dental bridges.

What Is a Dental Bridge?

A dental bridge is a prosthetic dental device designed to “bridge” a gap in a patient’s mouth where one or more teeth are missing. A dental bridge consists of three parts. Depending on the bridge type, it will consist of two stabilizing caps/crowns located on either end of the dental bridge or two dental implants and a center pontic.

The stabilizing caps are designed to fit over the natural teeth that are adjacent to the missing tooth. Between the stabilizing crowns is a center replacement tooth called a pontic. The pontic is designed to resemble and replace the patient’s missing tooth or teeth.

Dental bridges not affixed to dental implants do not have an anchor or artificial root system to hold the bridge in place. Instead, these dental bridges have pontics supported by the bridge’s two anchoring crowns.

In addition to traditional and implant-anchored bridges, there are a variety of dental bridge options, and our dentists can help you determine which is the best for you. Regardless of the type you choose, a dental bridge replaces your missing tooth or teeth while restoring function and achieving a natural bite, look, and feel.

What to Expect When Getting a Dental Bridge

The process of getting a dental bridge varies slightly depending on the type of bridge you will be receiving. For example, an implant-anchored bridge requires you to first go through the process of having dental implants placed, and a traditional bridge requires the preparation of the anchor teeth for placement.

Whichever type of bridge you receive, the first step will be taking impressions of your teeth to determine the exact design that will fit your mouth, achieve a proper bite, and restore your smile’s natural look and function.

If you plan to restore your smile with a dental bridge, our dentists will help you prepare for your appointment and answer any questions you might have, so you’ll know exactly what to expect.

Is a Dental Bridge the Right Treatment Option for You?

A dental bridge is an excellent smile restoration option for patients who are missing one or more adjacent teeth but do not wish to replace every tooth with a dental implant. Dental bridges affixed to anchor teeth, instead of dental implants, are also a good tooth replacement alternative for those who are not suitable candidates for dental implants.

To learn more about dental bridges and the restorative dentistry treatments available at Eastgate Dental Excellence, we welcome you to contact our office to schedule a smile restoration consultation today.