Dental Bridges
Replacing a missing tooth
Do you have a missing tooth? You have three options for replacing it:
- A fixed bridge
- A removable appliance
- A dental implant
A Fixed Bridge
A fixed bridge is three dental crowns all attached. Two crowns are placed over your existing teeth, and one crown is suspended over the missing tooth gap.
The advantage to having a fixed bridge is that it is permanent (10-15 years), not removable, and feels just like a natural tooth. The disadvantage is that the two teeth adjacent to the missing tooth have to be prepared and crowned.
A Removable Appliance
A removable appliance is a tooth that fits into the open gap and is attached to plastic or metal, which holds it in place.
The advantage of this appliance is that it is much less expensive than a fixed bridge. It can also replace more than one tooth at a time. The disadvantage is that it is not as esthetic or as comfortable as a fixed bridge.
If you have missing teeth, it may be necessary to use more than just one fixed bridge or removable appliance.
The procedure
The process for installing dental bridges generally takes two to three appointments, depending on the extent of the work needed.
- The teeth that the bridge will be attached to will first be whittled down to make room for the thickness of the crown.
- Then a mold of your mouth will be taken to create the prosthetic and you will wear a temporary bridge until your permanent bridge is ready.
- The last step is to cement the bridge into your mouth permanently.
" The dental procedures we specialize in enhance our
patients' look and their quality of life! "
If you are located in Lansing, Michigan area and think your smile would benefit from dental crowns and bridges, contact Dr. DiStefano and Dr. Nguyen today to schedule an initial consultation. These procedures produce wonderful results in a relatively short time, helping a countless number of our patients find their smile again!
To find out more, please visit the Dental Crowns and Bridges page from the Restorative section of this website or read the Dental Crowns and Bridges FAQs.
