Dental Bridges in Phenix City

Dental bridges are one of the most common restorative solutions for missing teeth. Although there are several options for bridges, they all have one thing in common: they use one or more teeth or dental implants as abutments to support a span of pontics, or prosthetic teeth.

This type of bridge uses the two teeth adjacent to the missing tooth (or teeth) as abutments. Crowns are placed onto these abutment teeth to hold the pontics, bridging the gap in your smile. Pontics may be made from a wide range of materials, including gold or porcelain, or they can be fabricated on-site at our dental practice using CEREC digital technology and milling.

A cantilever bridge only uses one adjacent tooth as an abutment. This can place stress on the supporting tooth, leaving it vulnerable to fracture. Cantilever bridges are typically reserved for situations where a traditional bridge is not possible.

The most stable type of bridge is the implant-supported bridge. Instead of placing dental crowns on otherwise healthy teeth to serve as abutments, implant-supported bridges rely on dental implants for support. When three or more adjacent teeth are missing, implant-supported bridges are a reliable solution that provides stability and longevity.

Like a traditional bridge, Maryland bridges use adjacent teeth as a support for pontics, but rather than placing crowns on the abutment teeth, a Maryland bridge bonds a metal framework onto the backs of the adjacent teeth. This adds less stress to the abutment teeth, but Maryland bridges are more prone to failure.

Contact our office to learn more about your restorative options and achieve the smile you have always wanted.

Most dental bridges last between five and 15 years. The lifespan of a bridge depends on its location in your mouth, the materials it is made with, and your oral hygiene habits.

Our practice provides bridges that restore function and esthetics to your smile. Your bridge will look natural and blend in with the rest of your teeth.

We use local anesthetic injections to numb the area where we’re working when we’re preparing your adjacent teeth for crowns. You may experience some discomfort after the anesthesia wears off, but over-the-counter pain relievers are usually sufficient to alleviate this. There is no pain associated with the bridge placement itself.

Many patients want to replace a tooth that has been extracted. Bridges are one of the most common solutions, but dental implants are popular as well. If most or all teeth on a single arch are missing, a denture is also an option.

Yes, dentists can fix loose bridges—in fact, if your bridge is loose, you should schedule an appointment as soon as possible to fix your bridge and prevent possible damage to your other teeth.