Complete your smile and restore your self-confidence with dental bridges
Dental bridges are one of the most common treatments at Montclair Dental Care in Oakland, California. When you do something enough times, you tend to be very good at it. Additionally, Dr. Childers brings more than 20 years of dentistry experience in Oakland, Alameda, Berkeley, East Bay, San Leandro, and surrounding areas with him to every procedure. The dental bridge procedure is “time-tested”; it has provided a predictable, effective, and affordable way to replace a missing tooth or scattered missing teeth for decades.
As with any other dental treatment, bridges are not appropriate for every situation. For starters, the replacement tooth within a standard dental bridge system is supported by healthy, neighboring teeth. You must have some teeth that are strong and healthy enough to serve as “anchors” for the replacement tooth (called a “pontic”).
Additionally, these anchoring, “abutment” teeth must be crowned. The crowns help build up the supportive teeth, allowing them to support the pontic over the long term adequately. All crowns fit over the “prepared” tooth structure. The natural tooth must be reduced in size and shaped. So, that way, the crowns fit over the teeth properly. Once our skilled lab partners make the crowns and the pontic, they are placed as a single unit or bridge. As Dr. Childers cements or securely stabilizes the crowns to the anchor teeth, the pontic fills the space and effectively replaces the missing tooth.
Dental bridges can be designed in several different ways and may be used to replace more than one tooth at a time, such as groups of missing teeth. With proper care, bridges also stand the test of time. We will demonstrate how to clean underneath the bridge properly. Floss threaders or interdental brushes or picks may be recommended to remove food particles, bacteria, and plaque efficiently and effectively from the hard-to-reach area under the bridge. Otherwise, brush and floss your teeth as you usually would and keep up with dental checkups at our practice.
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.
Modern ways to bridge the gap
Some patients prefer a more conservative way to replace missing teeth. Bridges that are supported by dental implants also do not require specialized cleaning tools or techniques. This form of tooth replacement is designed like natural teeth. As such, you should clean these teeth like the ones that developed naturally with you.
Implants are strategically placed in your jaw. They function like tooth roots to stabilize the overlying replacement teeth. The new teeth, in turn, get their support from the implant that joins the surrounding bone and becomes a part of the jaw. They do not rely on neighboring teeth. So, there is no need to alter otherwise healthy, remaining teeth with crowns. Implant-retained teeth are considered to be a great way to preserve natural tissues. These systems are also considered the “next best thing” to healthy teeth in terms of natural form (appearance), function, and feel in the mouth. They essentially cost more upfront. But many patients consider implant-supported bridges to be a great value and investment in their smiles and health. At Montclair Dental Care, we are also privileged to offer flexible options for payment. Affordable financing, for instance, lifts financial barriers to restoring your smile. Also, the sooner we can intervene with aching teeth, the better the odds that we may save the natural tooth with treatments such as root canal therapy. If teeth can’t be preserved, it is vital to replace them promptly. Gaps in your smile have significant implications for every aspect of your life, from how you feel about your looks to the clarity of your speech and the pleasure you derive from eating your favorite foods. Call us at (510) 328-7792 today to schedule your appointment with Dr. Childers.
