Dental Bridges

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Dental Bridges in James Island

All of your teeth play an important role in speaking, chewing, and maintaining the proper alignment of other teeth. Tooth loss doesn’t necessarily have to occur as we age, but if there is loss, a tooth must be replaced to maintain the proper function of the mouth. Fortunately, there are several options for correcting this!

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What Is a Dental Bridge?

A bridge is a device that replaces missing teeth by attaching artificial teeth to adjacent natural teeth, called abutment teeth. Permanently attached bridges are called fixed bridges and can only be removed by a dental professional. We connect fixed bridges by placing crowns on the abutment teeth or by bonding the artificial teeth directly to the abutment teeth.

When one or more teeth are missing, their importance to overall appearance and dental health is evident. Our teeth work together for many daily functions from eating to speaking. With missing teeth, it’s difficult to do these things. Fixed bridges are a great way to restore dental health and appearance.

Bridges are a good choice for those who don’t wish to get dental implants or dentures. The process for getting a dental bridge is quick, taking about two weeks to complete. Good oral care must be maintained to ensure the anchor teeth remain healthy. With proper care, dental bridges can last for many years.

Frequently Asked Questions

Oral functionality and appearance are important reasons for wearing a bridge. A bridge helps support the lips and cheeks. The loss of a tooth may cause the mouth to sink and the face to look older.

Dental health is the most important reason for a bridge. Teeth were designed to complement each other. Unusual stresses are placed on the gums and other oral tissues when teeth are missing, causing a number of potentially harmful disorders.

Increased risk of gum disease has proven to be one of the worst side effects of missing teeth and may be minimized with a bridge. Missing teeth may also lead to speech disorders as they’re used to form many of the sounds necessary for clear speech.

The attachment procedure usually takes two or three appointments to complete. At the first appointment, our dentist will prepare the teeth for the bridge. Since the bridge must be fabricated very precisely to ensure correct bite and to match the opposing tooth, impressions of the teeth are taken, and sent to a dental lab where the bridge will be constructed to our doctor’s specifications.

Fixed bridges are typically cemented to the natural teeth next to the space left by the missing tooth. A pontic (false tooth) replaces the lost tooth. Crowns, which are cemented onto the natural teeth, provide support for the bridge.

Replacing What Was Lost

Dental bridges are a great option to replace missing teeth. Make an appointment today to discuss your options with our dentist.

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Dental Bridges James Island, Charleston SC

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