Dental Bridges– Sparta, NJ

What is a Dental Bridge?

Dental bridges literally “bridge” gaps in an arch of teeth to make your smile whole again. A bridge consists of one or more artificial teeth placed between two dental crowns that are attached to your existing teeth to secure the restoration in place. These fixed bridges can look completely natural and last for over a decade with the proper maintenance.

For patients who are looking for a more advanced and modern tooth replacement option, Dr. Cannon also offers implant-retained bridges that are anchored to two titanium posts that are integrated with your jawbone. This way, you won’t have to alter your existing healthy teeth in order to support a traditional fixed bridge. Depending on your unique situation, we’ll let you know which restorative treatments can offer you the most benefits.

Benefits of Dental Bridges

Replacing missing teeth with a dental bridge in Sparta can improve your overall quality of life and offer you a variety of unique advantages. Some of these benefits include:

• Cannon crafts her bridges from high-quality dental porcelain, which allow them to mimic the natural properties of enamel, such as reflecting light. That way, your replacement teeth will seamlessly blend in with the rest of your smile.
• With the proper maintenance, a traditional fixed bridge can last for up to 15 years. Plus, they’re easy to care for!
• Replacing the gap in your smile with a dental bridge will make sure that your existing teeth don’t gradually begin to drift out of place to fill the area.
• Bridges are sturdy and strong restorations, allowing you to enjoy your favorite foods without having to worry about not being able to properly chew them.

The Dental Bridge Procedure

When you get a fixed bridge from Dr. Cannon, it typically takes place over the course of two or more appointments. That way, we can ensure that it fits perfectly and comfortably. Here are the main steps of the procedure:

• Preparing your natural teeth on either side of the gap in your mouth to anchor the bridge.
• Making impressions of your teeth and the space in your mouth to send to a dental laboratory that will custom-craft your bridge.
• Placing a temporary bridge to protect your prepared teeth while your permanent restoration is being made.
• Securing your permanent bridge in place after making sure that it fits comfortably and properly.

After your procedure, we’ll equip you with basic maintenance instructions to follow to make sure that your restoration stays healthy and looking great. If you have any additional questions, don’t hesitate to contact our office for more information!

Dental Bridge FAQs

If this is your first time receiving a dental bridge or you’re not sure if a dental bridge is right for you, it’s understandable if you have questions about treatment. At Gentle Dentistry Sparta, we want to ensure you feel comfortable about your future restorative care and feel fully informed ahead of time. For that reason, we’ve answered a handful of the most common questions we hear at the practice and included them below. If you have other concerns, please feel free to call us or let us know during your next visit!

How many crowns can you have on a bridge?

When you need a dental bridge to replace teeth, you can have as many as four crowns attached. However, the number you have on your bridge will largely depend on how many teeth you are missing. There are rare cases where a bridge may consist of more than four teeth, but at that point it’s closer to being a partial denture rather than a bridge. We’ll review your smile very closely and go over your options with you directly to determine what your exact dental bridge will look like before treatment is completed.

Can dental bridges fall out?

It’s a common misconception that dental bridges fall out easily, but this is not the case. It’s possible for a dental bridge to loosen over time, but they can be easily tightened by our office if needed. What is true is that dental bridges are incredibly sturdy and designed to last for many years. In some cases, they can even last the rest of your life. However, it’s more common that they need some sort of repair or replacement eventually. Even then, it’s incredibly rare for them to fall out when attached and customized properly.

Can teeth underneath a bridge become infected?

One of the benefits of dental bridges (and any restoration for that matter) is they cannot develop cavities or infections of any kind. This is because the material used to create them, porcelain, is entirely inorganic. That means oral bacteria cannot break them down and damage them. However, it’s very important to keep the natural teeth underneath your bridge clean as they can still develop decay. Dedicated oral hygiene every day can work to easily prevent this.

Should I choose a standard or implant bridge?

Dental bridges held in place with dental implants tend to be more stable, feel more natural, and last longer than traditional bridges, but they also cost significantly more and require oral surgery and several months of healing to receive. You’ll also need enough healthy bone tissue before the implants can be placed confidently. The best way to determine which option is best for you is to speak with our dentists directly.

Are dental bridges removable?

No. Dental bridges are designed to be fixed and therefore not removable by anyone other than the dentist who placed it. If you’re more interested in being able to remove your replacement teeth, ask us about partial dentures as a potential option instead.