One of the treatment options we offer for patients is the dental bridge to replace missing teeth. If you are a candidate for a dental bridge or need to fix an existing bridge, get in touch with our office in Manalapan to set up an appointment.
What Is a Dental Bridge?
A bridge is a restorative option for patients who are missing one or several teeth. A bridge is a link or connection between two permanent structures. A dental bridge is very similar in that it attaches the restorative teeth (bridge) to the natural teeth on either side of the space. This bridge acts as your new teeth, closing the gap and restoring your smile. Bridges can be fabricated of all porcelain or have gold foundations with porcelain fused to the foundation. This restorative solution bonds to the natural teeth and patients cannot remove it.
When Is a Dental Bridge Necessary?
Anyone who has missing teeth can get a dental bridge. We see patients who have lost teeth from gum disease, dental injuries, emergencies and tooth decay. In some cases, patients are born without a tooth because of a congenital condition.
To get a dental bridge, you must have healthy teeth on each side of the missing tooth. The bridge hooks on to those teeth to stay in place, so having a solid anchor is critical.
A missing tooth can cause problems if you leave the gap open. Your jaw may adjust, and you could develop other issues, such as:
- Difficulty chewing: Whether your gap causes discomfort or simply makes eating inconvenient, you may notice difficulty chewing after losing or damaging a tooth. This inability can make eating less enjoyable. What's more, you may stop chewing your food properly, which can cause health issues.
- Stress on the teeth and jaw: To compensate for a missing tooth, you may change your biting habits to chew your food on the other side of your mouth. Doing so can lead to further damage associated with overuse. You could also have trouble chewing hard things on the affected side of your mouth.
- Self-consciousness: If you lose a tooth in the front of your mouth, others can see the gap when you open your mouth to talk. You may become uncomfortable when smiling, laughing or eating in front of others. Feeling self-conscious can affect your self-esteem and confidence, causing long-term issues that are more difficult to address.
What Does a Dental Bridge Look Like?
See our before & after photos of dental bridges here.
Your dental crown has two major parts. Our specialists will choose healthy and strong abutment teeth on either side of the missing tooth to receive crowns, allowing those teeth to become anchors. The pontics are the false teeth that attach to the crowns to fill the missing space. There are four types of dental bridges, and those are:
- Traditional fixed: The most common fixed dental bridge is metal, ceramic or porcelain, and a professional will attach it onto two anchor teeth.
- Cantilever bridge: If a patient only has a healthy tooth on one side of a gap, this pontic can connect to just one pontic tooth.
- Maryland dental bridge: A resin-bonded bridge with wings on either side is ideal for patients with missing front teeth.
- Implant-supported bridge: This option is similar to a fixed bridge, but implants hold it in place instead of abutment teeth.
Book an Appointment Today
New Jersey dentists voted Specialized Dentistry of New Jersey (SDNJ) as one of the state's top dentistry providers. Our team includes periodontal and prosthodontist specialists. We recently added an endodontist to our team. Few dentists offer so many specialties in one place. If you need dental bridges in Manalapan, New Jersey, SDNJ can offer the best care available.
Specialized Dentistry of New Jersey is a dental bridge expert. View past patients and their happy smiles after a dental bridge procedure. Contact us to discuss how our dental bridges can help you chew better and eliminate self-consciousness. Book an appointment at our New Jersey office today or call us at 732-410-7101.
Specialized Dentistry of New Jersey is a dental bridge expert. View past patients and their happy smiles after a dental bridge procedure.
Specialized Dentistry of New Jersey (SDNJ) provides dental bridges in Manalapan, NJ.
Specialized Dentistry of New Jersey serves the areas of Freehold, Old Bridge, Morganville, Marlboro, East Brunswick, North
Brunswick, Middlesex County, and Monmouth County, New Jersey.
