If you have missing teeth, then at Northstar Dental, we can restore your smile and get you back to eating and speaking properly. Similar to how a typical bridge connects one land mass to another, a dental bridge will fill the gap between missing teeth.
A bridge contains crowns on both sides of the gap, and these anchoring teeth are referred to as abutment teeth – with some fake tooth or teeth in the gap. The fake teeth are known as pontics and are made using porcelain, alloys, gold, or a combination of all these materials. To support the bridges, implants, or the existing natural teeth will be used.
Types of Bridges Available
Before getting a dental bridge, our dentists will take you through the three main types of bridges available. First, there is the cantilever bridge, which is suitable for patients who have existing teeth on a single side of the missing teeth or tooth. However, due to the force, it can cause, it’s not suitable for installation at the back of the mouth.
With traditional bridges, a dental crown for the missing tooth will be created and a pontic placed in between. These are the most common types of bridges used by patients, and they are made from porcelain bonded to ceramics or metal.
Resin-bonded bridges, also known as Maryland bridges, are made of porcelain, plastic teeth with gums fixated on a porcelain or metal framework or porcelain bonded to metal. The porcelain or metal wings will then be attached to the remaining teeth.
Getting Dental Bridges
Similar to getting crowns, dental bridges require a minimum of two visits at our office. In the first visit, we will get the abutment ready, and this involves shaping the teeth through filing in a bid to remove some enamel. This process is necessary to make room for the crown. Afterward, we will make impressions which will be used as models to create the bridge, crowns, and pontic.
The impressions will then be sent to a dental lab for fabrication, and this may take up to two weeks or so. Meanwhile, a temporary bridge will be fitted to cover the gums and teeth in the affected area before the permanent one is ready.
In the second visit, our dentists will remove the temporary bridge and check the permanent one. If everything is okay, it will be fitted and adjusted for maximum comfort. In some cases, you may be required to return for a couple of visits to make sure the bridge fits and doesn’t affect your bite, although this will vary from one patient to another. If everything is in perfect shape, cement will be used to fit the bridge permanently.
Many patients question how much a dental bridge will cost them. The answer is that the cost varies from one patient to depending on the area of the mouth needing the procedure and the type of bridge recommended. However, bridges are durable and can last anywhere between 10 and 15 years, sometimes more. Take the time to reach our professionals Northstar Dental at (303) 481-3901 for valuable dental advice.
Dental Bridges - Lakewood, CO • Northstar Dental Bridges are the best affordable option for replacing missing teeth. Call Northstar Dental in Lakewood to restore your smile and get you back your mouth functions. Northstar Dental, 860 Tabor St, Ste 100, Lakewood, CO 80401 \ (303) 481-3901 \ northstardentalco.com \ 12/2/2024 \ Key Phrases: dentist Lakewood CO \
