Dental Bridges – Wichita Falls, TX
Rebuilding a Row of Missing Teeth
Losing a permanent tooth can often affect the health and stability of your dental structure as well as your emotional and psychological well-being. Support and chewing movements can be altered, which may lead to the shifting—and possible loss—of other teeth. There’s also a risk of accelerated gum disease, which in itself is one of the leading causes of tooth loss among American adults. Furthermore, people tend to be quite self-conscious about their missing teeth, which can lead to reduced confidence. By rebuilding your smile with dental bridges in Wichita Falls, you’ll be able to improve both your oral and overall well-being! Read on to learn more about this tooth replacement option or call our office today to schedule your consultation.
What is a Dental Bridge?
A dental bridge is a custom dental appliance designed to permanently supplant one or more missing teeth in a row. The actual bridge, which contains the replacement porcelain teeth or pontics, is held in place by dental crowns that cover the teeth on either side of the gap. These teeth are called abutment teeth, and they must be sufficiently strong to support dental crowns. In cases where the abutment teeth are not strong enough, Dr. Shelly Strohman may recommend dental implants to replace them.
Types of Dental Bridges
Our practice offers two types of dental bridges—both of which provide reliable results for rebuilding a patient’s bite.
Traditional Dental Bridge
A traditional dental bridge involves the use of two dental crowns connected via pontics, or artificial teeth, which will fill in the gap in your smile. This process requires the alteration of the tooth enamel on both nearby adjacent teeth so that the crowns have room to fit in with the rest of your smile. Once bonded in place, the pontics will rest atop the gum line. This option typically lasts 10+ years before needing a replacement.
Implant Bridge
Instead of reshaping tooth enamel, our team can embed dental implants that will support the bridge. While this treatment may require more time for surgery and recovery, the results will provide incredible stability and longevity for your restoration. In addition to being able to last several decades to a lifetime with proper care, the implants can stimulate proper bone growth, preventing the risk of jawbone deterioration.
The Benefits of Getting a Dental Bridge
Dental bridges offer a wide range of advantages to you and your oral health, including:
- Improving your natural bite
- Preventing wear and tear on other remaining teeth
- Enhances the appearance of your smile
- Boosts your self-confidence
- Can last a decade or more (30+ years with implant bridges)
The Dental Bridge Process
Our team will make careful impressions of the bridge area utilizing the 3M Intraoral True Definition Scanner to manufacture a restoration that will fit well between the adjacent teeth and will not interfere with your bite alignment. Dr. Strohman will then prepare the abutment teeth for the crowns by slightly reducing their size. She will gently file away the minimum amount of tooth structure to make room for them. An impression will be made of the prepared tooth to ensure that the aesthetics of your dental bridge are exactly right for you. While the lab fabricates your permanent bridge, Dr. Strohman will provide a temporary one.
After a couple of weeks, the lab will send us your custom-made dental bridge. Dr. Strohman will check the fit, size, and color to make sure they are perfect. If necessary, minor adjustments can be made with hand tools in our office. Then, the bridge will be cemented into place and you will have a complete smile once again.
If you have any questions about getting a dental bridge or want to schedule an appointment, be sure to contact our office today. Dr. Shelly Strohman provides comprehensive restorative services to the residents of Wichita Falls, Iowa Park, Burkburnett, Vernon, Henrietta, Holliday, Archer City, and the surrounding areas.