What is a dental bridge? Options in Chevy Chase, MD to fill the gaps in your smile

Do gaps mar your smile (and self-confidence)? Are you holding on to badly damaged, aching teeth? Health 360 Dental in Chevy Chase, MD, is pleased to offer tooth replacement that restores your appearance and transforms your quality of life. Dental bridges represent one of the most time-tested ways to replace teeth. Drs Erick Hosaka and Valerie Cassis have rebuilt teeth with both “traditional” bridges and “modern” bridges that are supported by dental implants placed in the jaws. 

Bridge the gap

A bridge over a road or water spans two points. Likewise, a dental bridge spans two points – the teeth on either side of the space where another tooth used to be. These neighboring or abutment teeth “anchor” the replacement tooth (“pontic”). To adequately support the pontic, these abutments must be crowned. The abutment teeth must be reduced slightly in size. That allows for the crowns to fit over the natural teeth properly. The crowns and pontic in a “standard” bridge are connected. So, when those crowns are fitted over the neighboring teeth and cemented in place, the fused pontic fills the gap between the abutments. The crowned abutments hold the new tooth in place.

Dental Bridge

Video Transcript

A bridge is a non-surgical way to replace one or many teeth. A bridge uses the adjacent teeth as anchors to support the missing tooth or teeth. With today’s dental advancements, a bridge can be fabricated in a fairly short period of time, using a metal or nonmetal foundation. Don’t let that missing tooth affect the way you speak, eat, and smile. Bridges yield immediate results that last a lifetime. Ask your dentist what type of bridge may be right for you.

With proper care, bridges can last several years – even a lifetime! It is important to keep the area beneath the bridge clean and free of decay-causing bacteria and plaque. We will recommend products such as floss threaders to clean these hard-to-reach spaces effectively and efficiently. Our team is happy to demonstrate techniques to support the sustained health of your new tooth.

Implant-supported bridges

At Health 360 Dental, we are privileged to offer tooth replacement for all budgets, lifestyles, needs, and goals. You may be a suitable candidate for dental implants. Instead of being supported by crowned neighboring teeth, bridges may be retained or stabilized with dental implants strategically placed and positioned in the jaw. The implant is made from a biocompatible material that joins naturally to surrounding bone in the jaw over time. Once implants are effectively part of the jaw, they can “root” the overlying bridgework in the jaw. Your new teeth are secure. Since they are designed like natural teeth, no special hygiene techniques or products are necessary to keep the bridge clean and healthy. 

To find out more about your options to replace a badly decayed or missing tooth, schedule an appointment at our Bethesda and DC-area offices. Call (301) 686-5255.