Dental Bridges – Greenville, TX
Confidently Bridge the Gap in Your Smile
No one wants to be missing a tooth, but thanks to modern restorative dentistry you always have several smile solutions. When you are missing one or a few consecutive teeth but the teeth on either side of the gap are healthy, a dental bridge definitely merits consideration. At Stone Street Dental, our dentists confidently bridge the gap in your smile to restore its appearance and balance, plus this restoration will prevent dental drift and reduce your risk of gum disease. Contact our team to schedule a consultation for dental bridges in Greenville!
Why Choose Stone Street Dental for Dental Bridges?
- Natural-Looking Artificial Teeth
- High-Quality, Strong Restorations
- Dedicated & Friendly Dental Team
What Is a Dental Bridge?
Dental bridges are designed to help patients who are missing one tooth or several teeth in a consecutive row. An alternative to partial dentures, this tried-and-true tooth-replacement solution uses dental crowns or dental implants to secure the pontics (free-standing replacement teeth) in place. Since the materials used are available in a wide range of lifelike shades, modern dental bridges fill the gap in your smile seamlessly. Plus, they are incredibly durable, ensuring your bite doesn’t suffer either!
Types of Dental Bridges
The first step to regaining your primetime grin is a consultation with our dentists. They’ll conduct an oral examination, ask about your goals, and review your medical history. Based on their findings, one of the following treatment options will be recommended:
Traditional Dental Bridge
A traditional dental bridge can replace a single missing tooth or several teeth in a row. This restorative treatment requires you to have a natural, stable adjacent tooth in front of and behind the space that you’re wanting to fill in. Essentially, we’re “bridging in the gap” by making a single unit of three or more teeth.
Implant Bridge
As the name implies, an implant bridge uses dental implants as opposed to crowns. The implants are placed on either side of the gap in your smile, and after they’ve fused with the jawbone, we’ll be able to attach the dental bridge to the implants to replace two or more missing teeth. Considered the strongest and most stable system, an implant-supported bridge requires surgery to embed the implants into the jawbone. Your time invested in this option will pay off in the quality of the result!
The Benefits of a Dental Bridge
When you replace your missing teeth with a dental bridge in Greenville, you can expect to enjoy an array of benefits including:
- Maintained alignment of your existing teeth
- Improved oral health
- Easy cleaning and maintenance
- Jawbone preservation with implant bridges
- Long-lasting results (15 years with traditional & 35+ with implant-supported)
- Natural-looking smile
Dental Bridge FAQs
Is Getting a Dental Bridge Painful?
Many patients put off treatment because they are worried that their procedure will be painful. Fortunately, we will always do everything we can to make you feel as comfortable as possible in the dental chair. Before we prepare your teeth to support a dental bridge, we will start by numbing the area with a local anesthetic. We also offer nitrous oxide sedation and oral conscious sedation for patients who feel anxious regarding dental procedures. You may experience some soreness following your procedure, but this can be managed with over-the-counter pain relievers.
How Long Should a Dental Bridge Last?
Dental bridges usually last between 5 and 15 years, but this can vary depending on multiple factors. This includes your diet, oral hygiene, and whether you have bad oral habits, like smoking and teeth grinding. Dental bridges placed in the front of the mouth tend to last slightly longer than those toward the back of the mouth because they aren’t subjected to as much wear and tear. If your bridge is being held by dental implants, it will likely last longer than a traditional bridge.
How Many Teeth Can a Dental Bridge Replace?
Depending on your needs, a dental bridge can replace anywhere from one to four teeth in a row. However, in most situations, bridges are used to replace only one or two teeth. The longer that the bridge extends, the less stable it may become, so it can become risky to have a bridge replace three or more teeth. Implant bridges can lower this risk, replacing up to four teeth in a row.
Do Dental Bridges Feel Natural?
Within a few days of getting your permanent bridge, it should start to feel increasingly natural. Bridges are made from durable materials that can stand up to everyday chewing forces just as easily as tooth enamel, so eating with a bridge shouldn’t feel strange. The reason we reshape your abutment teeth is to ensure that your bridge fits comfortably in the mouth. Dental bridges are also customized based on impressions taken of the tooth. Ultimately, your bridge shouldn’t feel awkward or noticeable.
