Dental Bridges in Cheshire, CT
Have a missing tooth? No worries!
If you have a missing tooth or are missing many teeth, our office in Cheshire offers a range of modern dentistry restorations for you to choose from. We offer dental bridges, crowns, dental implants, and removable dentures to our patients.
Missing teeth can not only make you feel self-conscious but can lead to other dental issues, including:
- Bone loss in the jaw
- Adjacent natural teeth to shift
- Gum recession and disease
- Bite issues and pain
- Your overall health can be compromised by disease
It is vital to find treatment for your missing teeth as soon as possible. Our team in Cheshire is here to help find the best options for you. One of the dental restoration options we offer to patients with missing teeth is dental bridges.
Dental Bridges to Replace Missing Teeth
There are three types of dental bridges we can use to replace your missing teeth. Bridges are a great option compared to a partial or removable denture because they are permanent and do not need to be removed.
Based on your budget and needs, Dr. Kurtz will help you decide which option will be best for you.
Traditional Dental Bridge
A traditional bridge consists of a false tooth held in place by dental crowns that have been cemented to the abutment, or adjacent, teeth. These bridges work if you are only missing one or a few teeth in between natural teeth.
This process requires the dentist to remove some of the enamel on the adjacent teeth to create the abutment teeth and bond the dental crown and the bridge. This is a permanent bridge and is commonly used for tooth replacement.
Dental Implant-Supported Bridge
Dental implant-supported bridges are similar to traditional bridges, except they do not require crowns placed on the adjacent teeth. Instead, this type of bridge consists of a dental implant embedded into the jawbone. The number of missing teeth will determine the number of dental implants that need to be placed to make the bridge.
The process of placing dental implants will require a few appointments and months in-between for healing time for the gums and jaw bone surrounding the implant post. This process could also take longer if you need a root canal, tooth extraction, or bone grafting to help prepare the bone beforehand.
After the initial placement of the implant into the jaw bone, a temporary crown will be used while you wait for your gums and bone to heal. After a few months of healing, the new artificial tooth will be placed.
Maryland Bridge
When trauma or congenital issues cause missing teeth, dental implants are not always the best option for a patient if they have insufficient bone density or angled tooth roots. If this is the case, Dr. Kurtz will recommend using a Maryland bridge to replace your missing tooth.
This bridge is a permanent restoration where the prosthetic tooth is attached to adjacent teeth by a bridge. The placement of a Maryland bridge is faster and less invasive than other options. They consist of a prosthetic tooth with metal wings on either side. These metal wings are then bonded to the back of the adjacent teeth. This does not require any removal of the adjacent, natural tooth enamel. The wings are attached using a composite resin and then cured with a special light. Soon you will have a restored smile.
What to Expect for a Dental Bridge Procedure
The type of dental bridge you require will depend on the procedure. Because of this, we will explain the process of the traditional style of bridge.
For a traditional bridge, you will need two appointments. During your first visit, Dr. Kurtz will prepare your adjacent teeth for the bridge. She will carefully grind down some of the tooth enamel of each tooth to better bond the crown to the tooth. Once those teeth are cleaned, she can place the two crowns and bond them. These crowns will hold the bridge in place. Next, she will take measurements of the abutment teeth and send that to the lab to create the bridge. Finally, she will place a temporary bridge in place while you wait for the bridge and false tooth to be made.
After about a week, you will come in for the second visit once the bridge is created. Dr. Kurtz will remove the temporary bridge, place the new bridge with the tooth, and cement it to the dental crowns.
You may experience some discomfort after this procedure, but it should only last for a couple of days. Soon you will have completed the tooth replacement process and have a new smile to show off!