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What is a Dental Bridge Procedure Like?

It happens to the best of us. You just bit into a delicious meal or just woke up from a nice nap just to find one of your teeth cracked or missing. It comes with no warning and can really put a damper on the rest of your day.

After a trip to the dentist, they present several different solutions that all come with different benefits at a different cost. It’s clear that dental surgery will be needed, but this can lead to uneasy feelings. Either way, you’ll have to make a decision to fix your broken teeth.

What is a Dental Bridge?

A dental bridge is designed to help fill in gaps between teeth and also solve chipped or broken teeth. In a traditional dental bridge, the replacement tooth will be cemented to the surrounding teeth, meaning it won’t be attached to your gums or jaw -- hence the bridge term.

In the event you have multiple teeth missing, your dentist may suggest an implant-supported bridge. This type of bridge is held together by implants secured to your jawbone.

This might sound like a scary procedure, but a traditional dental bridge is actually quite a common procedure that dentists perform on the regular.

What’s the Dental Procedure Like?

One of the more tedious parts of getting a dental bridge done is the extraction process -- if necessary. This is where they will pull the tooth and clean/disinfect the area where the replacement tooth will go. The dentist may also need to trim the surrounding teeth to further accommodate the dental bridge.

Once the tooth is extracted, a temporary bridge will be placed while the area heals. This could take anywhere from a few months to a year (depending on the severity of any infections where the tooth was). The dentist will take measurements and have the real dental bridge made out of the material chosen by the patient.

When the area is healed and the real bridge is ready, you will be brought in for another visit to place the final dental bridge. This is an easy process and won’t take long. Overall, the most discomfort will be experienced during the extraction process and simply getting used to the new dental bridge.

Are There Benefits to Dental Bridges?

Dental Bridges are way more affordable than dental implants, while still providing the patient with a uniform and comfortable smile. The material used will resemble a real tooth and they can match the color of your other teeth to keep it looking smooth.

Dental bridges also don’t impact your eating and chewing. If your chipped tooth limited your chewing before, those issues will be resolved. They also won’t have any affect on your speech or breathing.

Dental bridges are a common procedure done when teeth are missing, chipped, or infected. They can provide a pleasing look aesthetically and won’t break your bank in the process. If you’re ready to learn more about the dental bridge procedure, feel free to contact our office today!