Dental Bridge Specialist in Bay Area, San Jose, CA

A dental bridge is when you have any missing teeth or a gap between teeth where a dentist is able to apply a bridge in-between to close that gap with a false tooth. This false tooth is held in place by what is known as abutment teeth on either side of the gap. False teeth can be made out of several different materials including gold; they are typically made from porcelain to aesthetically blend into the patient’s natural teeth.

There are different types of dental bridges available, as each individual’s case for a dental bridge is different and may need a different bridge for each, they are:

1. Traditional Dental Bridge
Traditional bridges are completed with a false tooth or teeth which are held in place by dental crowns that have been cemented in place with the abutment teeth. This is one of the most popular types of dental bridges and is used when you have natural teeth on either side of the gap which was created due to your missing tooth.
 
2. Cantilever Dental Bridge
A cantilever dental bridge is similar to the traditional bridge, the pontic in a cantilever dental bridge is held in place with a dental crown that is cemented in place with only one abutment tooth. For this particular bridge, you only need one natural tooth next to the missing tooth gap.
 
3. Maryland Dental Bridge
Again, similar to the traditional dental bridge, the Maryland bridge employs two natural abutment teeth, one on each side of the gap but instead of a dental crown used, the Maryland dental bridge uses a framework style of either metal or porcelain that is bonded onto the back of the abutment teeth.
 
4. Implant-supported Dental Bridge
Implant-supported dental bridges use dental implants instead of crowns or frameworks. One implant is placed for every missing tooth, and these implants are what hold the bridge in place. Implant-support dental bridges are considered the strongest and most stable dental bridge system, and require two surgeries:
 
• One surgery to embed the implants into the jawbone
• A second to place the bridge

Dental bridges are often needed when you have a missing tooth or teeth; as missing your teeth can affect you in several ways. A dental bridge helps to address these issues by:

• Restoring your smile
• Restoring the ability to properly chew
• Restoring your speech and pronunciation of words
• Maintaining your natural facial shape
• Adjusting your bite to distribute the force when you chew properly
• Preventing your remaining teeth from moving from their correct position

A dental bridge procedure regardless of the type has multiple steps involved and can take more than one visit depending on the type you are having done. The general steps taken for a traditional bridge include:

1. Dr. Victoria Vuong DDS and Dr. Henry Chang DDS inject a local anesthetic into your gums near the site of the bridge work to help you feel relaxed and have no pain.
2. Dr. Victoria Vuong DDS and Dr. Henry Chang DDS will prepare the supporting surrounding teeth by shaping them to make space for the crown to be placed over them as part of the bridge.
3. Dr. Victoria Vuong DDS and Dr. Henry Chang DDS will take an impression of the bridge design for laboratory fabrication.
4. Dr. Victoria Vuong DDS and Dr. Henry Chang DDS will then create a temporary bridge or crown to offer protection to your teeth.
5. On the bridge delivery visit, Dr. Victoria Vuong DDS, and Dr. Henry Chang DDS will remove the temporary bridge and ensure the permanent bridge’s fit before cementing it permanently with dental cement.
 
If you have any questions about a dental bridge, call Selective Dental today! We will be more than happy to answer any questions or concerns you may have about dental bridges.

Yes, a dental bridge is a permanent fixture in your mouth and cannot be removed. This is to ensure there is no movement and you can easily continue with your daily routines without any issues. Dental bridges can last many years depending on how they are taken care of and the patient’s oral hygiene.
 
If you are looking for a dental bridge, and have any questions about the dental bridges and the treatments we offer, contact us today! We would be happy to answer any questions or concerns you may have! We serve patients from all over Santa Clara County CA: San Jose, Milpitas, Santa Clara, Campbell, Sunnyvale, Cupertino, Saratoga, Los Gatos, and beyond!