Frequently Asked Questions

What is a dental bridge? 

A dental bridge, as the name suggests, “bridges” the gap left by a missing tooth. It’s a fixed appliance that uses the teeth surrounding a missing tooth for support. You can get a bridge to replace one missing tooth or even multiple missing teeth that had been next to each other.

Your dentist can use natural or artificial teeth as the abutment, or anchor teeth, to support the bridge. If the anchors are natural, your dentist places crowns, or caps, over them. If you’re only replacing one missing tooth, and the teeth on both sides of the gap are healthy, your dentist simply attaches the bridge to them.

Am I a good candidate for dental bridges?

You may not think of one missing tooth as a major issue. However, that’s enough to interfere with speaking and chewing food. It can even cause your other teeth to shift out of place and change the shape of your face. A dental bridge can serve to effectively address these problems, restoring your ability to chew and speak, and maintaining the integrity and alignment of your teeth and jaw. 

The SEDA Dental team examines your mouth at your consultation to help you decide the best type of bridge (cantilever, traditional, resin bonded, or Maryland bonded) and material (ceramic, porcelain, porcelain fused to metal, and metal) for you.

How many appointments are necessary for bridge placement?

A bridge placement requires two appointments at SEDA Dental. At the first appointment, your dentist takes impressions of your teeth, so an outside dental lab can design the replacement tooth or teeth. Your dentist also removes a small portion of the enamel from the surrounding abutment teeth so they can fit the crowns and bridge.

While you wait for the lab to make your permanent bridge, you receive a temporary bridge to protect your teeth and gums. At the second appointment, your dentist fits and bonds your bridge to your teeth. You come in for a follow-up appointment a few weeks later to ensure your teeth and gums are adapting well to the bridge and to receive any necessary adjustments.

What can I expect with my new dental bridge?

Though any dental procedure requires some adjusting, a dental bridge feels and acts much like natural teeth. You can eat all the same foods that you can enjoy with a full set of natural teeth. You should also find that it’s easier to talk than it was before receiving the bridge.

Be sure to brush and floss regularly and get regular dental checkups at SEDA Dental. A bridge can last 5-15 years, sometimes longer, with good oral hygiene and care.

To learn more about dental bridges, schedule an appointment online or over the phone at SEDA Dental.