DENTAL BRIDGES

WHAT IS A DENTAL BRIDGE?

A dental bridge is a type of dental work that replaces a tooth or a few consecutive missing teeth. Two dental crowns are placed on the healthy teeth living on either side of the gap left by your lost tooth. A false tooth, or pontic, is attached to the crowns and literally bridges the gap, replacing your missing tooth. 

DID YOU KNOW…

Dental bridges can be used to replace up to 3 consecutive missing teeth.

Ready to schedule your appointment in ?

How it works: The dental bridge treatment process

PREPARATION OF ABUTMENT TEETH

Your dentist will clean and numb your mouth, and then begin to trim away a thin layer of enamel from the two teeth next to your missing tooth. These are known as “abutment teeth” and they will hold your crowns. Your bridge will permanently attach to these crowns.

IMPRESSIONS

Once your abutment teeth have been prepared, Dr. Awasthy will use dental putty and trays to take impressions of your teeth. These impressions will be used by a technician at a dental lab to build your dental bridge. 

TEMPORARY BRIDGE

Depending on your needs, your dentist will place a temporary resin bridge to protect your prepared abutment teeth, or two temporary dental crowns. Either way, your prepared teeth will be covered and protected until your permanent bridge can be placed.

BRIDGE CHECK & ADJUSTMENT

Once your permanent bridge is ready, usually within a few weeks, you’ll come into the office to have the bridge checked for proper fit. Minor adjustments may be made by your dentist, if necessary, to ensure that your bridge looks and feels natural. If the bridge requires larger adjustments, it will be sent back to the lab for further refinement.

PERMANENT PLACEMENT

Once you and your dentist have determined that the fit of your bridge feels right, they will use powerful dental cement to attach it permanently to your abutment teeth, restoring your smile and your bite.

TYPES OF DENTAL BRIDGES

Traditional Bridge

Traditional dental bridges are made out of two crowns, which are attached permanently to “abutment teeth.” These are the healthy teeth located next to one or more missing teeth within your mouth. Between these teeth, a metal framework is used to suspend one or more “pontics” (false teeth). These false teeth literally “bridge” the gap between your missing teeth, restoring your smile.

Cantilever Bridges

Unlike a traditional fixed bridge, which supports your bridge using two abutment teeth, a cantilever bridge uses only a single tooth to support your bridge. In this type of bridge, a single tooth is trimmed next to your missing tooth. Then, a bridge is made that consists of a single crown and an artificial tooth. The crown is attached to your abutment tooth, and then the artificial tooth is suspended in the gap where your missing tooth used to be, restoring your smile. 

Cantilever bridges are less invasive than traditional bridges, since only one tooth has to be trimmed, and they are usually less expensive than traditional bridges. However, you must have a healthy mouth to get a cantilever bridge, and they typically can only be used in a few areas of the mouth.

Maryland Bonded Bridges

A Maryland bridge does not require any removal of enamel or preparation of the adjacent teeth. In this treatment from our dental office, a false tooth is built using a metal framework with “wings” that attach to the adjacent teeth. These “wings” are attached to the backs of your teeth using dental cement, holding the false tooth in place and restoring your smile. Maryland bridges are commonly used in the front teeth, and are ideal if you would like to restore your smile without any invasive dental treatment. 

DID YOU KNOW…

Bridges preserve your alignment, and keep your other teeth from shifting.

Interested in replacing missing teeth?

Have questions about dental bridges? Find answers here.

DID YOU KNOW…

Dental bridges are non-surgical and can last for several decades with proper care.

Ready for your next dental appointment?

Don’t be a stranger!

Get In Touch Today

Phone

978-455-3775

Address

1673 Middlesex St Lowell, Massachusetts 01851

Phone: 978-455-3775 Fax: 978-455-8469

Email

lowellpremierdental@gmail.com

Hours

  • Monday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
  • Tuesday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
  • Wednesday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
  • Thursday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
  • Friday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
  • Saturday: BY APPOINTMENT
  • Sunday: Closed