Dental Bridges – Plano, TX
Fill the Gaps in Your Smile
If you’ve suffered from tooth loss, you know just how challenging it can be to complete daily tasks, like eating, speaking clearly, and smiling with confidence. The good news is that there are a variety of tooth replacement options that can fill the gaps in your smile. At Legacy Trails Dental of Plano, we offer customized dental bridges to restore the appearance and function of your smile. Schedule a consultation with us to determine whether a dental bridge is the ideal tooth replacement option to meet your needs. We’re eager to help you restore your smile!
What is a Dental Bridge?
A dental bridge is a restoration that’s used to replace one or several consecutive teeth. Typically, this is anywhere from one to four teeth in a row. The bridge is composed of two crowns and a number of replacement teeth known as “pontics.” The crowns will be anchored onto your adjacent teeth or dental implants depending on the type of bridge that you end up getting. This restoration can be made from a variety of durable, natural-looking materials.
Types of Dental Bridges
The style of bridge that you get depends on the location and number of missing teeth you have. Here are the two different types:
Traditional Bridge
For patients who still have healthy teeth on either side of the gap that needs to be filled in, a traditional bridge is often the ideal option. The teeth that support the dental crowns are known as “abutment teeth,” and they will be altered slightly so the bridge fits comfortably in your mouth. This type of restoration can be placed in just a few visits and is typically the most affordable type of bridge available.
Implant Bridge
If you don’t have healthy adjacent teeth, surgically implanted metal posts, also known as dental implants, can provide an alternative. Dental implants can be used when there are three or more missing teeth in a row. Implant bridges last longer than traditional bridges on average, and they help to prevent bone loss over time thanks to missing teeth.
The Benefits of Dental Bridges
Here are some of the many benefits that you can experience when you choose a dental bridge to replace your missing tooth:
- Prevents surrounding teeth from shifting out of place
- Improves overall confidence and self-esteem
- Allows for thorough chewing
- Improves speech articulation
- Lowers risk of oral health issues
- Cost-effective tooth replacement option
Dental Bridge FAQs
Missing teeth doesn’t have to be a fact of life. With the help of personalized dental bridges from Legacy Trails Dental of Plano, you can rebuild your smile, take back your oral functions, enjoy the foods you love and much more. We understand if you have questions about this restorative treatment, so feel free to let us know or take a look at some of the most common questions we’ve heard over the years below for your convenience.
Can You Take a Dental Bridge Out?
Dental bridges should not be taken out once they have been attached. This is because they are designed to stay in the mouth for many years and only taken out once they are in need of replacement. There’s no circumstance where you should be able to take them out on your own. Only a professional, such as a dentist, should do this. In certain cases, healthcare providers may call partial dentures “removable bridges”, but this is not quite accurate. While partials are similar to bridges in that they only replace a handful of teeth, partial dentures can be removed as needed while dental bridges cannot. If your bridge comes out for any reason, do not hesitate to contact us.
How Long Should a Dental Bridge Last?
You can typically expect your bridge to last anywhere between 5 and 15 years, but this timeframe can vary depending on a few different factors. For example, dental bridges made from metal generally have a longer lifespan compared to metal-free ones. However, this factor alone is not a guarantee. Tooth-colored bridges can also provide similar results. What’s really important is how well you practice at-home oral hygiene and the foods you consume day-to-day. Furthermore, you should avoid habits like smoking, nail-biting, or eating ice and other hard foods. If you have a teeth grinding habit while you sleep, consider purchasing a nightguard to protect your restoration as well as your remaining teeth. It’s worth noting that bridges on the front teeth also tend to last longer than those on the back teeth because they are not subjected to as much wear and tear. Furthermore, dental implants can provide your restoration with the support it needs to last much longer (i.e. several decades).
Can Dental Bridges Be Whitened?
Regardless of the material used to create your bridge, it will not respond to whitening like your natural enamel. This is because natural enamel is porous and therefore can receive bleaching gels designed to break apart stains. Dental restorations, whether they are bridges, veneers, crowns, or something else, do not have these pores and therefore cannot be whitened. Instead, your bridge will remain the same color. Metal-free bridges work to blend in with your existing teeth as closely as possible. If you’re considering teeth whitening, we recommend completing this treatment first, then have your bridge placed. That way, we can color-match your bridge to your whitened teeth and better meet your desired appearance while still replacing your teeth.
Can Dental Bridges Get Cavities?
Dental bridges cannot develop cavities because they are made from inorganic materials. However, that does not mean the teeth underneath are not at risk for decay. Food debris can also become trapped underneath the pontics of the bridge or in the space where the crowns meet the gums, so be sure to practice diligent brushing and flossing every day. Visit our office for checkups as well so we can confirm your routine is working as intended (and perform a detailed cleaning!)