Dental Bridges

A dental bridge is a restoration that fills the gap left by a missing tooth or teeth. While a bridge doesn’t replace a tooth, it does restore your ability to chew and speak normally. At Lala Dental, it also prevents your remaining natural teeth from shifting out of position. The gums around the bridge may temporarily be tender or sore in the weeks following placement. Special care will need to be taken when brushing and flossing the bridge and surrounding teeth to ensure that bacteria are not collected in the space between the restoration and the gums. 

The Advantages of Dental Bridges

A dental bridge is designed to replace missing teeth with a natural-looking smile. Unlike partial dentures, which sit on top of your gums and can be less stable, a bridge is supported by your remaining natural teeth. The crowns are placed over your natural teeth and cover the gap left by the missing teeth. This restores your smile to a natural appearance and allows you to speak and eat again. A dental bridge is custom-made to fit your smile and natural bite. 

The Procedure for Dental Bridges 

At your initial consultation, Dr. Meshkin will discuss the procedure with you. After you’ve discussed the process and Dr. Meshkin has examined your teeth and determined the proper method for restoring your smile, she will take X-rays of your mouth.

These X-rays will be used to customize the bridge to fit your specific needs. Dr. Meshkin will use these measurements to create a custom bridge that will fit comfortably in your mouth. The bridge will be customized to match your teeth in color, shape, size, and alignment. This will help it blend in seamlessly with the rest of your smile and ensure you don’t experience any issues when speaking or chewing.

The next step of the procedure is to prepare the surrounding teeth for the bridge. Dr. Meshkin will prepare the teeth supporting the bridge by shaping them and removing any excess enamel. This will ensure that the bridge can be securely placed over the teeth and won’t cause discomfort or pain. Next, Dr. Meshkin will place temporary crowns on the abutments to protect the teeth from damage while the gums heal.

Once the surrounding teeth have been prepared and the permanent crowns are in place, Dr. Meshkin will take impressions of your mouth. The impressions will be sent to a dental lab, where they will use them to design your custom bridge. This process can take a few weeks because of the customization required to ensure your new tooth fits appropriately. Once the bridge is ready, Dr. Meshkin will call you to schedule a second appointment, during which you’ll get to try on your final restoration to ensure it fits comfortably in your mouth.

To learn more about dental bridges, contact Lala Dental at 895 Moraga Rd Suite 6, Lafayette, CA 94549, or call (925) 385-8858.