Army veteran honored at North Brunswick street sign ceremony
Dental Bridges
When it comes to missing teeth, our patients at KK Dental have a few viable options for restoration. One of the most common solutions is known as a dental bridge. As the name suggests, a dental bridge quite literally bridges gaps among teeth. It is a false prosthetic tooth that replaces the missing tooth and is supported by anchoring or abutment teeth on either (or just one) side.
The prosthetic tooth may also be known as a false or artificial tooth, but it’s also called a pontic. A pontic is typically made of porcelain or a combination of metal and porcelain. This allows for accurate color matching with the adjacent teeth and the rest of the smile.
The supporting abutment tooth or teeth may be your natural, original teeth, or they can be implants.
The Dental Bridge Procedure
A dental bridge procedure requires at least two visits to our office. During your first visit, your dentist will get started on preparation. This involves placing the crowns or metal framework on the anchor teeth. Your dentist will also take an impression of the area for the pontic to be constructed accurately. Before this visit is complete, a temporary artificial tooth will be placed. The temporary pontic protects the delicate area.
Once your permanent artificial tooth is ready, you will come for your next appointment. Your dentist will remove the temporary prosthesis and fit the permanent bridge. They will make all of the necessary adjustments to ensure your comfort before the pontic is permanently cemented into place. This process may take a few visits to our office but ensures the most comfortable and natural-looking result.
What Is the Difference Between a Dental Bridge and a Dental Implant?
Many people think of dental implants for the replacement of a missing tooth. A dental bridge is not a permanent fix for a missing tooth, whereas an implant usually is. However, with proper dental hygiene habits, a dental bridge can last upwards of 15 years.
If you’re having an implant-supported bridge placed, then implants will be surgically installed before the dental bridge procedure.
The experts at KK Dental will guide you through the entire dental bridge procedure to make sure you’re comfortable and satisfied.
FAQs
When a tooth is lost, the surrounding teeth may gradually drift toward the space left by the missing tooth. These shifting changes can alter bite balance, affect chewing patterns, and place uneven pressure on surrounding teeth during daily function.
A bridge restores the space left by a missing tooth using a replacement tooth supported by the teeth on either side. Restoring the missing area may help improve chewing stability and reduce excess pressure on surrounding teeth.
In some cases, nearby teeth are shaped so the bridge can fit securely and remain stable during biting and chewing. The amount of preparation depends on tooth strength, bite position, and the type of bridge being planned.
Yes, long-term tooth loss may gradually affect the surrounding bone and bite alignment. Missing teeth can also contribute to shifting teeth, uneven chewing pressure, and changes in how the upper and lower teeth contact each other.
Dental bridges remain fixed in place and do not need to be removed for daily wear. Some patients prefer bridges because they provide more stable chewing support than removable appliances in certain treatment situations.
Yes, healthy gums and supporting tissues are important for maintaining bridge stability. Gum disease or ongoing inflammation around the supporting teeth may increase the risk of future problems affecting the bridge over time.
Plaque and food particles may collect beneath the bridge, where regular brushing cannot always reach fully. Carefully cleaning underneath the restoration may help reduce bacterial buildup and support healthier gums around the bridge.
Yes, heavy grinding or clenching may place excessive pressure on the bridge and supporting teeth. Over time, this stress may contribute to wear, loosening, fractures, or strain affecting the restoration and surrounding structures.
Before treatment begins, the dentist evaluates the condition of the gums, supporting teeth, bite alignment, and surrounding bone. Existing decay, fractures, or gum disease may require treatment before a bridge is placed safely.
A dental bridge consultation may be recommended if you have missing teeth, shifting teeth, chewing difficulty, or bite changes after tooth loss. At KK Dental, treatment recommendations are based on oral examination findings, bite evaluation, and the long-term condition of the teeth and supporting tissues.
