Dental Bridges – St. Augustine, FL
Bridge the Gap for a Flawless Smile
Large spaces in your smile can detract from your daily quality of life. Not only is it harder to thoroughly chew food and clearly enunciate different words, but the changes in your appearance can also affect your self-confidence.
Thankfully, our team at Salt Run Family Dentistry can help! We can provide a natural-looking prosthetic to bridge the gap for a flawless smile. Continue reading to learn more about dental bridges, and feel free to contact us for more information.
Why Choose Salt Run Family Dentistry for Dental Bridges?
- Skilled Dentists with 20+ Years of Experience
- Advanced Technology to Improve Patient Comfort
- Lifelike, Tooth-Colored Materials
What is a Dental Bridge?
Dental bridges are restorations typically made from a resilient ceramic to replace one or more missing teeth in a row. They include a dental crown at each end that anchors to either an abutment tooth or a dental implant on either side of the gap in your grin. They’re fully customized to look just like your natural teeth, so no one can tell the difference once they’re bonded in place.
These replacements also preserve your oral health by preventing your remaining teeth from drifting out of alignment, which can weaken the enamel and leave them prone to cavities, injuries, and disease.
Types of Dental Bridges
Before you can be fitted with a dental bridge, you must consult with one of our dentists to ensure that you’re a good candidate. Our team will examine your mouth to ensure no problems might interfere with your results. Then, we’ll recommend one of the following options based on our findings:
Traditional Dental Bridge
This is the tried-and-true type of dental bridge and is ideal for replacing one to three consecutively missing teeth. The natural teeth on either side of the space in your smile must be sufficiently strong to support it in the long term.
Implant Bridge
If your teeth are too damaged or decayed to hold your bridge in place safely, we might recommend dental implants. For this method, we’ll surgically place dental implants to anchor your bridge instead. As an added benefit, these artificial teeth stimulate your jaw every time you bite down to keep it active and healthy.
The Benefits of Getting a Dental Bridge
There are many advantages to being fitted with a dental bridge in St. Augustine, including:
- Preserving your remaining teeth by preventing dental drifting.
- Boosting your self-confidence by enhancing your appearance.
- Restore your ability to speak and eat more easily.
- Lifelike, tooth-colored materials that look and feel natural.
- Can last up to 15+ years with the right maintenance.
Dental Bridges FAQs
Can You Take a Dental Bridge Out?
No, you cannot remove your dental bridge yourself. They are designed to remain in your mouth for many years after being placed. Only a dental professional can remove your dental bridge.
You may have heard some healthcare professionals refer to a partial denture as a “removable bridge,” however this is not entirely accurate. Although partial dentures are similar to dental bridges, partial dentures can be removed at any time by the patient, while dental bridges cannot.
What Are Dental Bridges Made Of?
Dental bridges can be made from a variety of materials. At Salt Run Family Dentistry, we use durable, lifelike materials in our restorations, as these are both strong and natural-looking.
Ultimately, the material your dentist recommends will depend on your specific needs. He or she will explain the reasoning behind their recommendations at your consultation.
Is Getting a Dental Bridge Painful?
Before beginning the preparation of your teeth to support your dental bridge, your dentist will numb the teeth they will be working on.
Following the preparation and placement of your dental bridge, the underlying teeth may feel sensitive for a few days. Taking an over-the-counter pain reliever should help, but please call your dentist if the discomfort worsens.
Because bridges keep your remaining teeth from drifting out of place, they could very well prevent discomfort from occurring later.
If you’ll be receiving an implant bridge, you will likely experience some soreness after your dental implant placement procedure, but you will be provided with aftercare instructions to help minimize the pain.
How Long Should a Dental Bridge Last?
In most cases, you can expect your dental bridge to last between five and 15 years, but this will vary depending on the material your bridge is made from, as well as many individual factors such as your diet, oral hygiene, and whether you have any bad oral habits like smoking, nail biting, teeth grinding, or eating ice, etc.
Bridges that replace front teeth may last slightly longer than those that are located toward the back of the mouth, as these are not subjected to as much wear and tear from chewing.
If you have a dental implant bridge, it will likely last longer than a traditional bridge. Although the restoration (the teeth) itself will need to be replaced eventually, the dental implant posts could last a lifetime with the right care.