Anyone who has recently lost a tooth knows what a gap in your smile can do to your overall level of confidence. Fortunately, one of the seamless solutions our Hudsonville dentists can introduce you to is a dental bridge. Ideal candidates for this form of tooth replacement must have either natural teeth that are healthy on each side of the empty socket or be willing to commit to dental implants for extra support.

Here’s what you need to know about how dental bridges work as well as an overview of the procedure.

What Is a Dental Bridge?

A dental bridge is a fixed prosthetic device that dentists like ours use to replace one or more missing teeth. Appropriately named, the presence of this restoration effectively “bridges” the gap left by those teeth. Unlike dentures, a bridge is permanently anchored to the adjacent natural teeth or as mentioned above, implants.

In its most traditional form, a dental bridge consists of two or more porcelain crowns for the teeth on either side of the gap, known as abutment teeth, and a false tooth in between, called a pontic. Dental bridges not only restore the aesthetic appearance of a complete smile but also help maintain the proper alignment of remaining teeth, improve chewing functionality, and support the overall oral health of the patient.

Additionally, having a dental bridge can:

  • Prevent further tooth loss
  • Maintain your face shape
  • Improve how well you’re able to speak and form words

Dental Bridge Procedure Basics

For your first appointment inside our Hudsonville, MI, dental office, our dentists will remove enamel from teeth on both sides of the gap. This is done to ensure that the incoming crowns have room to comfortably sit on top of your teeth. Once the preparation stage is finished, our dentists will take digital impressions of your teeth to send to the dental lab where your tooth bridge will be made. In the meantime, we’ll place a temporary bridge to protect your smile.

After a few weeks, we’ll ask that you return to the office for the placement of your permanent bridge. Our dentists will remove the temporary version and replace it with the final restoration. Any needed adjustments will be made at this time for the best fit and you’ll be sent on your way with your new smile!

Get Evaluated for a Dental Bridge

Our dental bridge dentists in Hudsonville, MI, can restore your smile after tooth loss if you’re dissatisfied with how it looks and functions. To learn more, call Hudsonville Dental today at (616) 209-4024, or contact us online to schedule an appointment.

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