Revitalize Your Smile With a Dental Bridge

At Santa Teresa Dental, we offer a comprehensive range of restorative dentistry techniques to replace missing teeth and restore confident smiles. If you are missing one or several teeth in a row, we may recommend a dental bridge custom-crafted to match your natural teeth. Here is everything you need to know about dental bridges and how they can help revitalize your smile.

What Is a Dental Bridge?

A dental bridge is an oral prosthetic device that is designed to replace one or more teeth in a row. It consists of artificial teeth, known as pontics, attached to dental crowns placed on natural teeth adjacent to the gap, known as abutment teeth. A dental bridge can literally “bridge” a gap left by one or more missing teeth, restoring your complete, functional smile. 

Dental Bridges vs. Partial Dentures: What Is the Difference? 

Patients often ask us whether dental bridges are the same as partial dentures. While both offer a solution for replacing missing teeth, dental bridges provide key advantages. While partial dentures are removable, bridges are fixed permanently to your teeth, providing you with the confidence that they will stay securely in place. 

Dentures can sometimes be uncomfortable, leaving you with sore spots or irritation. Dental bridges, on the other hand, are similar to natural teeth, enhancing your comfort and confidence. Unlike partial dentures, which require daily cleaning and soaking, caring for a dental bridge is similar to caring for natural teeth. Simply brush and floss regularly and visit Santa Teresa Dental for routine dental exams and cleanings. 

What Is the Dental Bridge Placement Procedure?

The dental bridge placement process starts with a comprehensive examination to ensure the neighboring teeth are strong and healthy enough to support your bridge. When you decide to proceed, we will numb the treatment area using a local anesthetic to ensure you are comfortable. Next, we will remove a small amount of tooth structure on either side of the gap to accommodate the dental crowns that will hold your new bridge in place. 

The next step is taking digital impressions of your mouth and selecting the color and shade of your new bridge to ensure a seamless match with your natural teeth. Technicians at a dental lab will use this information to create your restoration. Meanwhile, a temporary bridge will protect your prepared teeth as you wait.

When your permanent bridge is ready, we will evaluate it and make sure it provides an ideal fit and match to your teeth before bonding it in place. We may need to make adjustments to ensure a comfortable, natural bite. Your new dental bridge will look, feel, and function like natural teeth. 

What Are the Benefits of Dental Bridges?

Dental bridges offer significant benefits, enhancing the health, beauty, and function of your smile. Here is a look at their key advantages: 

• They Restore Your Smile and Confidence: Dental bridges fill gaps left by missing teeth, restoring complete, natural-looking smiles. They are custom-crafted to match the size, color, shape, and overall appearance of the surrounding teeth, making them virtually unnoticeable when you smile. 
• They Improve Chewing and Speaking Function: Missing teeth can interfere with chewing certain foods and can affect the clarity of speech. Dental bridges help you enjoy a wider variety of foods and support proper articulation, helping you communicate with confidence.
• They Keep the Neighboring Teeth from Shifting: When a tooth is extracted or lost, the neighboring teeth tend to drift toward the gap. A dental bridge helps keep the surrounding teeth in place, maintaining the alignment of your smile. 
• They Balance Your Bite: Replacing missing teeth with a dental bridge helps redistribute and balance the forces of your bite. This helps lower your risk of periodontal disease, tooth wear or fracture, and even TMJ discomfort.

Dental Bridges Near Me in Morgan Hill, CA

Contact Santa Teresa Dental to learn more about revitalizing your smile with a dental bridge. Dr. Huang and his patient-centered team use the latest technology and highest-quality materials to provide durable restorations tailored to your unique needs. We look forward to helping you restore your complete, beautiful smile. Call us at 408-782-6568 to schedule an appointment, or book one online today!