Missing teeth can have a negative impact. It can affect the function and the beauty of the smile, as well as oral health. Dr. Christopher Port of the Family Dental Health of South Asheville in Arden, NC uses porcelain restorations such as dental bridges to repair the smile to restore functionality and appearance, and ensure that the existing teeth do not shift out of place. Patients often ask how dental bridges work and are pleased to find they can be an effective and affordable solution.
Dental bridges are just one of several ways to replace missing teeth. Patients often have several options to choose from:
At the Family Dental Health of South Asheville, we find dental bridges to be a wonderful middle-of-the-road option. These restorations are fabricated from porcelain and include false teeth fused to crowns on each end. The bridge “bridges the gap” between the teeth where the tooth has been lost, and uses the crowns on each end for placement over the adjacent teeth for support. This entire restoration is fabricated by a dental laboratory. They create the restoration with impressions of the smile and specific instructions from our dental team in terms of the color, shape, and size the bridge. The entire process from preparation of the teeth to bonding the final restoration in the smile can be approximately one week.
Patients who are interested in a dental bridge will need to have teeth adjacent to the gap to support the restoration. The crowns on the ends need support. Patients who are missing support may ask about the use of a dental implant to stabilize the bridge.
The purpose of bridges is to provide a permanent restoration within the smile that does not need to be removed, as a partial denture would, to replace a missing tooth. Bridges can replace one or several teeth in a row with one restoration. They are long-lasting and more affordable than alternatives such as dental implants.
Dental bridges do require particular care to ensure that plaque, tartar, and bacteria do not build up underneath the bridge. Also, the teeth that are underneath the crowns may still be susceptible to decay and disease, so brushing, flossing, and routine dental visits are key to the success of the treatment and the health of the smile as a whole.
Dental bridges are:
To place a bridge, the adjacent teeth supporting the bridge need to be prepared for the dental crowns. This means that a portion of the natural tooth enamel needs to be filed down. Once this is done, impressions are taken to ensure the bridge fabricated fits in place. This eliminates bulk added by the restoration once bonded onto the natural teeth. The entire piece is seamlessly integrated into the smile thanks to the great care our team takes in matching the porcelain to the same color as the natural teeth, while ensuring the size of the dental bridge is in line with the dental arch.
Dental restorations are a common way for patients in the Arden, NC area to achieve a functional, beautiful smile! We encourage patients to learn about the options available to them when replacing or repairing natural teeth. Call the Family Dental Health of South Asheville today to book an appointment with Dr. Christopher Port and discuss the ways in which you can enhance the smile’s function and beauty with porcelain restorations. The practice is conveniently located at 600 Julian Lane, Suite 610 and can be reached by calling .
Enhancing the smile is more than just professional-grade teeth whitening. Other options are readily available…
A bright, white smile is often associated with confidence, health, and overall well-being. Teeth whitening…
Everybody has heard of heart-friendly and brain-friendly foods but--gum-friendly foods? Yes, there really are specific…
If you’re currently missing some or all of your teeth and are looking to upgrade…
Modern cosmetic dental treatments can make your dream smile a reality. This means you no…
Trauma, gum disease, and congenital absence is among the many reasons for suffering from tooth…