Fill the Gaps in Your Smile with Dr. Grubb

Missing teeth can cause a lot of problems — they often make it difficult to eat, speak, and smile without embarrassment. If you’re missing adjacent teeth, replacing each of them with individual restorations can be costly and inconvenient.

That’s why we recommend a dental bridge for patients in this situation. Our bridges are customized to your teeth and highly durable for natural-looking, long-lasting results.

What is a Dental Bridge?

A dental bridge is accurately named as it literally bridges the gap between one or more missing teeth. The restoration is composed of one or more natural-looking porcelain teeth called pontics.

These pontics rely on your adjacent teeth on either side for support.

Since they’re customized to your smile, you can rest assured that your dental bridge will blend seamlessly into your smile, fit comfortably, and function like natural teeth.

When Do I Need a Dental Bridge?

If your surrounding teeth are damaged or already protected with crowns, a dental bridge is an ideal option for you. If not, you may want to consider dental implants to avoid filing down your natural teeth.

For the best of both worlds, you can choose the convenient option of an implant-supported bridge. They look and function just like a traditional bridge, except they rely on implants for support instead of your adjacent teeth.

Implant-supported bridges require an extended treatment to allow the implants to integrate with your jaw, but the long-term health benefits are well worth it. Plus, you’ll save time and money in the long run by preventing further issues with your teeth.

Bridges vs. Implants

The process of getting dental bridges is much faster than the implant process and doesn’t require surgery, so the recovery time is minimal. Bridges complete the gap between missing teeth and are held in place by anchoring teeth on either side of the gap called abutments. 

Dental bridges can be removable or fixed and last from five to fifteen years or even longer with excellent oral care and biannual checkups with Dr. Grubb. 

On the other hand, dental implants require surgery and several appointments to complete the process. The implant consists of a titanium post that replaces your natural tooth root to support a customized porcelain crown, with a small abutment connecting the restoration. 

The recovery process for implants is longer, about three to six months in total. However, the longer treatment pays off over time. With proper oral care and checkups, dental implants can last up to a lifetime.

The Dental Bridge Placement Process

The dental bridge procedure typically takes two appointments which last about 20 to 30 minutes each. To start, Dr. Grubb will prep the teeth surrounding the gap, which will anchor the bridge in place. These teeth, called abutments, will be lightly buffed before we can place crowns over them. 

Then, a detailed impression will be taken in order to customize the crowns, pontic, and bridge in a lab. Dr. Grubb will make a temporary bridge for you to wear in the meantime. Once your restoration arrives, we’ll remove the temporary bridge and make any adjustments to the new bridge to ensure a perfect fit before it’s cemented into place using a dental-grade resin compound.