Dental Bridges – Chevy Chase, MD
Complete Your Smile with a Dental Bridge
Your teeth are designed to last for a lifetime, but 120 million Americans are missing at least one tooth. Losing a tooth isn’t just an aesthetic issue. Your oral health can suffer devastating consequences if it isn’t replaced. Not to mention, your self-esteem can also be affected. You don’t need to hide the gaps in your smile any longer. We can replace your missing teeth with a dental bridge in Chevy Chase. You can regain the healthy, attractive smile you deserve.
What is a Dental Bridge?
A dental bridge is a method of recreating 1-4 missing teeth in a row. Your dentist will take an impression of your mouth to replicate the portions of your teeth above the gum line. Not only does this restore the appearance of your smile, but it also provides your remaining teeth with the support they need to avoid common issues associated with tooth loss. You’ll invest in a complete smile and reduced dental expenses.
Types of Dental Bridges
You have more options than ever to treat tooth loss. Your dentist in Chevy Chase will examine your mouth and learn more about your preferences to create a personalized treatment plan. It’s not uncommon to need a little prep work before getting your new teeth, like tooth extractions or gum disease treatment. Your dentist will explain all your options, including:
Traditional Dental Bridge
A bridge and crowns have been used for generations to treat consecutive tooth loss. Although they can treat up to 3 teeth, they are most often recommended to replace 1-2. The bridge is held in place by bonding dental crowns over the adjacent teeth. With the right aftercare, your bridge can last for 5 to 10 years before needing to be replaced.
Implant Bridge
As an alternative to a traditional bridge, you can anchor your new teeth to your jawbone with dental implants. 1 or 2 titanium posts are surgically placed into your jawbone to replicate the roots of your teeth. This provides the next best thing to your real teeth using a solution that’s proven to last for decades with the right aftercare, like committing to your oral hygiene.
The Benefits of Getting a Dental Bridge
Every tooth is vital to your dental health. You don’t have to let a missing tooth affect your oral health, quality of life, or confidence. A bridge provides many benefits, including:
- Natural-looking results
- Durable, long-lasting solution
- Improves oral health
- Boost self-esteem
- Restores oral functions
- Easy maintenance and care
- Reduces overall dental expenses
If you are ready to complete your smile, contact our office today to request your consultation for a dental bridge.
Dental Bridges FAQs
Is Getting a Dental Bridge Painful?
Honestly, getting a dental bridge isn’t painful at all. The process is typically smooth and easy, regardless of the patient’s exact situation.
To ensure pain-free work, your dentist will numb the teeth they’ll be preparing. All it takes is an application of some topical anesthetic; you’ll then have no troubles with treatment. Indeed, the most you’ll feel from the preparation process is slight pressure.
Admittedly, your teeth may feel sore after the dental bridge treatment. That especially applies if your restoration is held in place by dental implants. However, any aches you have will fade after a few days; you can also manage them with pain medications.
How Many Teeth Can a Dental Bridge Replace?
Dental bridges in Chevy Chase (or anywhere else) can replace one to four teeth. That said, how many your device replaces will depend on your situation.
The trouble is that dental bridges get unstable as they’re extended. When they’re made to replace three or more teeth, they become more likely to fall apart and fail. For this reason, most dental bridges only replace one or two teeth at most; any more would invite needless risk. The only other option is to get an implant bridge, which uses implants just as strong and secure as natural teeth.
Are Dental Bridges Safe?
You can rest easy; a dental bridge is 100% safe when placed by a qualified dentist. If you decide to undergo treatment, your teeth, gums, and the rest of your mouth will be just fine.
For starters, dentists take precautions when placing dental bridges. They rely on advanced expertise and technology to ensure the process has no hiccups. Your abutment teeth may lose some enamel as part of the placement, but these parts of your smile won’t be harmed.
Furthermore, dental bridges themselves don’t (or shouldn’t) cause adverse reactions. Metal ones don’t contain mercury or any other toxic materials. The same applies to tooth-colored dental bridges that use ceramic and zirconia, which are harmless.
Do Dental Bridges Look Natural?
As a matter of fact, yes – modern dental bridges look very natural. It’s to the point that they blend seamlessly with a patient’s surrounding smile!
Remember, metal-free bridges have ceramic and zirconia that match your other teeth. These materials look almost exactly like tooth enamel, even in how light bounces off them. That means your dental bridge wouldn’t draw unwanted attention from friends, family, or anyone else.
At the same time, note that dental bridges are secured with abutments (or dental implants). That means they won’t slip or fall out like a traditional denture could.