Dental Bridges – Dallas, TX
Conveniently Replace Multiple Missing Teeth
Losing adult teeth leaves gaps in your grin that can negatively impact your daily quality of life. It’s much harder to speak, eat, and smile confidently with spaces in your smile, especially if several fell out in a row. Thankfully, Dr. Dizon can provide a beautiful dental bridge to conveniently replace multiple missing teeth simultaneously.
Continue reading to learn more about how dental bridges can benefit you, and feel free to contact us for additional information.
Why Choose Dizon Dental Aesthetics for Dental Bridges?
- Advanced Technology to Enhance Patient Comfort
- Rated “Best of Big D” Best Dentist in D Magazine
- Realistic, Tooth-Colored Materials
What is a Dental Bridge?
A dental bridge is a single oral appliance that contains one or several pontics (artificial teeth) connected to a dental crown at each end. They attach to healthy teeth in your mouth or dental implant places specifically to anchor them. They’re usually made from resilient, tooth-colored materials, like durable porcelain, that can be carved and color-matched to look just like your natural teeth.
By providing you with a dental bridge, Dr. Dizon can fill in the spaces left behind by pearly whites that fell out to restore both your smile’s appearance and its functionality with a single prosthetic.
Types of Dental Bridges
Before proceeding with this treatment, you must consult with Dr. Dizon to ensure you’re a good candidate. If there are no issues that could interfere with your results, she’ll recommend one of the following options based on your current dental condition:
Traditional Dental Bridge
This is the standard way to replace one or multiple missing teeth. It requires that the teeth at each side of the space in your smile are healthy enough to support them long-term. If your teeth are overly damaged or decayed, you might be a better candidate for an implant bridge.
Implant Bridge
This combines the strength and stability of dental implants with the versatility of a dental bridge. Instead of anchoring to abutment teeth in your mouth, two dental implants will be surgically inserted into your jawbone to hold them in place. If cared for correctly, these tend to last longer than traditional bridges.
The Benefits of Getting a Dental Bridge
Now that you have a better idea of what dental bridges are and how they work, it’s natural to wonder whether they can help you. There are several advantages to getting these restorations in Dallas, including:
- Preserve your dental health. Your remaining teeth are prone to drifting out of alignment to fill in wide gaps without a buffer, which can prematurely wear down your enamel and increase your vulnerability to disease and decay.
- Restore chewing ability. You need a full row of teeth to thoroughly grind your food so that it is more easily swallowed and digested.
- Enunciate clearly. Spaces in your smile can lead to a lisp or other changes to your speech patterns, which can be reversed with a prosthetic.
- Boost confidence. These restorations look and feel natural, so you won’t have to worry about being judged on your appearance.
- Easy to clean. Brush and floss them twice daily to prevent issues like gum disease and tooth decay.
Dental Bridges FAQs
Can You Take a Dental Bridge Out?
No, your dental bridge can only be removed by Dr. Dizon or another dental professional. You should not be able to or attempt to take your bridge out on your own. You may have heard of a product called a “removable bridge,” however this prosthetic is not actually a bridge, it is a partial denture, which is completely removable by the patient at any time.
How Long Should a Dental Bridge Last?
The average lifespan of most dental bridges is between five and fifteen years, however this can vary depending on the material of the bridge and the condition of your oral health, your diet, and other lifestyle factors such a smoking, teeth grinding, eating ice, or nail-biting.
Bridges that replace front teeth may last a bit longer than those located toward the back of your mouth, as the front teeth are not typically subjected to as much wear and tear from chewing.
If you have an implant supported bridge, it will most likely last longer than a traditional bridge. While the bridge itself will need to be replaced eventually, the implant posts themselves can last for decades with proper oral care.
How Many Teeth Can a Dental Bridge Replace?
A dental bridge can replace up to four consecutive missing teeth, however most bridges are only designed to replace one or two teeth. This is because the longer the bridge extends, the less stable it can become, especially if the nearby teeth aren’t in good condition.
To lower this risk, Dr. Dizon may recommend an implant bridge. These prosthetics can lower the risk of instability, as dental implants are just as strong as your natural teeth, and in some cases can be even stronger.
Can Dental Bridges Be Whitened?
No, your dental bridges cannot be whitened like your natural teeth can. This is because your tooth enamel has tiny pores which bleaching gel can penetrate and break up stubborn stains. Bridges do not have these pores, and thus will always remain the same color.
Thankfully, metal-free bridges are designed to match your existing tooth color, so they blend in as closely as possible with your remaining teeth. If you are concerned about the color of your dental bridge, speak to Dr. Dizon about getting a professional tooth whitening treatment before your bridge is created so your new prosthetic will better match your natural teeth.
If you have an older bridge, Dr. Dizon can also customize a new one for you in a lighter, matching shade if you would like to whiten your teeth after you’ve already had a bridge placed.