Getting Dental Bridges in Annapolis, MD

Dental bridges are often used in restorative dentistry. If you need to replace one or more missing teeth, they’re a great option for you. But what can you expect from getting dental bridges at Lee, Bonfiglio, Vesely, and Associates? Read on to find out.

What are Dental Bridges?

Dental bridges are a method of replacing missing teeth. They’re called bridges because they “bridge” the gap left by your missing teeth. We link one or multiple teeth together to make your bridge. It’s then anchored by your natural teeth on either side. We take extra steps to ensure stability by adding dental crowns to the teeth that are acting as anchors.

We also offer implant-supported bridges. These are only used in cases of two or more consecutive missing teeth. Instead of using natural teeth as the anchor, dental implants are used on either side.

What are the Advantages of Dental Bridges?

Dental bridges are one of the more cost-effective options for replacing lost teeth. Compared to dental implants, they’re typically less expensive.

Dental bridges are also completed faster. For the finished product of a conventional dental bridge, it usually only takes about two weeks. For dental implants, it can take almost a year, since the implant posts have to fuse with the jawbone.

What are the Disadvantages of Dental Bridges?

As with everything, there are disadvantages to dental bridges. When you use your natural teeth as anchors, it can cause significant wear and a possibly higher likelihood of cavities. They also require particular maintenance. Your dentist will have to teach you how to floss around dental bridges, as it requires a special technique to maintain dental health and avoid decay.

What Can I Expect From the Process?

For a normal dental bridge, we’ll file down the enamel on your natural teeth. This is so we can fit the dental crown over your tooth properly. We take impressions of your teeth so that your bridge can be created specifically for your mouth. When it comes back from our in-office dental lab, we’ll make sure that it’s a good fit for you. Then, we cement it into your mouth.

For an implant-supported bridge, we first have to implant the posts into your jaw. You do have to wait for these to heal before moving forward. This should take 3-6 months. After that, we place abutments. These are what will connect your dental implant to the bridge. After about two weeks of healing, impressions are taken to make the dental bridge. When it comes back, we secure it to those abutments and make sure the fit is ideal.

Replace Missing Teeth in Annapolis, Maryland

Drs. Lee, Bonfiglio, Vesely, and Associates take every step to make sure you get the dental restoration that fits your unique needs. Call us today or schedule an appointment online.