Dental Bridges

Your new bridge is customized to the exact specifications of your smile. Before cementing to the underlying teeth or affixing it to the supporting implants, the shade, occlusion, and all aspects of its fit get carefully checked. In addition to being designed to blend seamlessly with your smile, it's also made to suit your bite and withstand all manner of oral function. We take great care to make sure your new restoration looks great, fits well, and that your bite feels comfortable.

Replacing missing teeth with a dental bridge is a worthwhile investment in the look, health, and function of your smile. While many dental insurances offer coverage for a dental bridge, and some toward the cost of implants, the benefits and amounts can vary significantly from plan to plan. At the office of Artistic Family Dental, we understand the financial considerations involved in care and do all we can to help patients begin treatment without any additional stress or delay. In addition to doing our best to optimize your dental benefits, we also offer several payment and financing options. Feel free to contact our office if you have any questions on the cost of care, dental insurances, financing plans, or acceptable forms of payment.

Now that your new permanent crown or bridge is in place, it's essential to maintain good oral hygiene. With proper care, your new restorations will last for years to come. Make sure to brush and floss as instructed. We'll show you how to floss under your dental bridge to keep your new smile clean and bright. Remember to make appointments for your routine checkups and professional cleanings.

The standard answer is that with routine dental visits and good home care, a bridge can last ten to fifteen years, and in many cases, much longer.

At the office of Artistic Family Dental, we fabricate your bridge from the highest quality dental materials to achieve the most cosmetically pleasing and lifelike results of care. It's also customized to the exact specifications of your smile and designed for optimal aesthetics, strength, and stability. Once fabricated and cemented into place, you'll feel confident sharing your smile, speaking, and eating your favorite foods.

As your trusted partner in care, we analyze every aspect of your smile to develop a treatment plan that provides aesthetically pleasing, healthy, and long-lasting results of care.

For more information on dental bridges, or any services we provide, give us a call today.

A dental bridge is a fixed prosthetic that fills the gap left by one or more missing teeth by spanning the empty space with artificial teeth called pontics. The bridge is anchored to adjacent natural teeth prepared for crowns or to dental implants that act as stable supports. Once fitted, the restoration restores a continuous chewing surface, helps maintain proper tooth alignment and improves speech and appearance.

Bridges distribute bite forces across the supports so chewing is more efficient and balanced, which protects remaining teeth from excessive wear. Modern materials and digital design tools allow bridges to match the shape and color of natural teeth for a lifelike result. With proper planning and care, a bridge can feel comfortable and integrate seamlessly into day-to-day oral function.

The primary categories are traditional fixed bridges supported by crowns on adjacent teeth and implant-supported bridges anchored to dental implants placed in the jaw. Other options include cantilever bridges, which are used when support is available on only one side, and resin-bonded bridges that use metal or ceramic frameworks bonded to adjacent teeth for a more conservative approach.

Choice of design depends on factors such as the number and location of missing teeth, the condition of neighboring teeth, and the quantity of supporting bone. Your dental team will review these clinical factors to recommend the option that best balances function, aesthetics and long-term stability.

Candidacy is determined by a clinical exam that assesses tooth health, gum condition and bone quantity in the area of the missing tooth. If neighboring teeth are healthy and strong, a traditional bridge may be suitable; when preserving adjacent tooth structure is a priority or when multiple teeth are missing, implant-supported solutions are often recommended.

Diagnostic imaging, including digital X-rays or 3D CBCT scans when needed, helps evaluate bone volume and anatomical considerations that affect treatment planning. The dentist will also consider your oral hygiene, medical history and personal goals to recommend a predictable, long-lasting restoration.

Treatment for a traditional fixed bridge typically begins with a comprehensive exam and treatment planning, followed by preparation of the abutment teeth by reshaping them to receive crowns. Precise impressions or digital scans are taken so the laboratory can fabricate a custom bridge, and a temporary restoration is placed to protect the prepared teeth while the final prosthesis is made.

Once the laboratory restoration is ready, the temporary is removed and the dentist checks the fit, bite and appearance before permanently cementing the bridge. Most patients experience only short-term sensitivity after preparation and adapt to the new restoration within a few days to weeks.

An implant-supported bridge begins with surgical placement of dental implants into the jawbone, followed by a healing period during which the implants integrate with the bone, a process called osseointegration. Healing typically takes several months and may include placement of temporary restorations to maintain aesthetics and function during the integration phase.

After osseointegration is confirmed, custom abutments and the final bridge are fabricated and attached to the implants for a stable, long-term restoration. Implant-supported bridges often preserve bone and avoid modifying adjacent healthy teeth, making them a durable option for many patients.

Daily oral hygiene is essential: brush twice a day and clean beneath the pontic and around abutment teeth using floss, interdental brushes or specially designed floss threaders. Proper technique prevents plaque accumulation and gum inflammation that can compromise the supporting teeth or implants over time.

Regular professional cleanings and dental exams allow your clinician to monitor the bridge, adjust the bite if necessary and address any early issues. If you grind or clench your teeth, wearing a custom nightguard can protect both natural teeth and the restoration from excessive wear.

The lifespan of a bridge varies with material quality, oral hygiene habits and the health of supporting structures; many bridges provide reliable service for years when properly maintained. Factors that influence longevity include how well the abutment teeth or implants are cared for, the presence of gum disease, and habits such as grinding, chewing hard objects or poor oral hygiene.

Routine dental visits for professional cleaning and examinations help catch problems early and extend the functional life of a bridge. If supporting teeth or bone change over time, the dental team can recommend repairs, replacements or alternative solutions to preserve oral health.

A well-designed bridge restores proper occlusion and helps maintain the alignment of adjacent teeth by filling the space left by a missing tooth. During the planning and fitting stages, the dentist evaluates the bite and makes precise adjustments so the bridge distributes forces evenly and integrates with how your upper and lower teeth come together.

In some cases, adjacent teeth must be reshaped to accommodate crowns used as abutments, which is a predictable part of traditional bridge therapy. If preserving natural tooth structure is a priority, the team may discuss implant-supported or resin-bonded alternatives that minimize alteration of neighboring teeth.

Potential complications include decay or gum disease around abutment teeth, loosening of cemented restorations, or problems with the fit and bite that require adjustment. Implant-supported bridges carry surgical risks such as infection or implant failure, although careful planning and modern techniques make these outcomes uncommon.

Maintaining excellent oral hygiene and attending regular dental visits significantly reduce the likelihood of complications. Your clinician will explain specific risks based on your oral condition and outline measures to mitigate them before treatment begins.

The practice begins with a thorough clinical exam, patient history review and diagnostic imaging to assess tooth health, gum condition and bone volume. This information allows the dental team to compare options such as traditional crowns, resin-bonded bridges and implant-supported restorations and to recommend the solution that best meets functional and aesthetic goals.

At Artistic Family Dental, clinicians use digital scans, precise laboratory work and careful communication with patients to create predictable treatment plans tailored to individual needs. The team also explains maintenance requirements and schedules follow-ups so patients understand how to protect their new restoration for years to come.