At the office of Advanced Dental Centers, we provide skilled and experienced care to help every patient enjoy the benefits of optimal oral health and a beautiful smile. For individuals who are missing teeth due to extensive decay, periodontal disease, trauma, the result of an illness, or side effect of medical treatment, we offer a comprehensive range of services to rebuild complete, attractive, and functional smiles.
Missing teeth do more than cause embarrassing gaps in your smile. In the absence of a replacement, they can affect the health and function of your smile in the following ways:
Although the consequences of missing teeth can compromise your dental health and overall well-being, modern dentistry offers effective solutions for reestablishing a complete, attractive, and well-functioning smile.
Today, thanks to advances in dental materials, technology, and treatment methods, it’s easier than ever before to replace missing teeth and achieve aesthetically pleasing and long-lasting results.
Of course, each smile is different, and every patient has unique needs and individual expectations of care. Helping a patient rebuild a complete and beautiful smile may involve partial or full dentures, fixed dental bridges, or dental implants. As skilled and experienced providers of care, the office of Advanced Dental Centers offers expert guidance on choosing the most suitable treatment option.
A dental bridge offers a highly effective, stable, and fixed solution for replacing missing teeth. Unlike removable partial dentures, a dental bridge relies on the support of crowns attached to teeth adjacent to the edentulous area or strategically placed dental implants. In addition to restoring the look, feel, and function of a natural smile, they also prevent the teeth from shifting, thereby protecting the alignment of a patient’s bite.
Today, dental bridges are fabricated from the highest quality of dental materials, including porcelain, porcelain fused to metal, and engineered ceramic products like zirconia — stronger, more durable, and more naturally beautiful than ever before.
Depending on the number of missing teeth, the health of the remaining dentition, and other factors, a dental bridge can replace a single missing tooth or multiple ones. The two most commonly recommended types are:
Traditional Fixed Bridge
A traditional fixed bridge typically requires the preparation and crowning of teeth on either side of the edentulous space. These crowned teeth function to support the artificial ones, known as “pontics,” that span the gap. A cantilever fixed bridge differs in one way: only one side of the pontic gets attached to a crown for support.
Implant-Supported Bridges
As the most advanced method for the replacement of missing teeth, an implant-supported bridge often represents the best option in care. There’s no need to prepare or crown any adjacent natural teeth. Dental implants behave much like natural tooth roots and provide all the support a bridge requires — while also preventing the bone shrinkage that naturally occurs when teeth are lost, helping maintain normal facial contours.
Successful treatment outcomes rely upon a careful assessment of a patient’s oral health, overall well-being, smile goals, lifestyle, and budget. Before the fabrication and placement of a dental bridge, it’s essential that your mouth is free from gum disease. If gum disease is present, it will need to be treated in advance.
For traditional fixed bridges, the crowned teeth need to be strong and have sufficient bone surrounding them. Sometimes a bone-grafting procedure is required before the fabrication of an implant-supported or traditional bridge.
Fixed bridges are typically fabricated over the course of multiple visits. The process involves the preparation of the supporting teeth, impression taking, the placement of a temporary bridge, and the try-in and cementation of the permanent restoration.
It begins with a complete diagnostic workup to develop an appropriate treatment plan. The next step involves preparing the abutment (supporting) teeth for full-coverage crowns. A temporary bridge will get placed to protect the prepared teeth until the permanent restoration is ready.
Following preparation, it’s not unusual to experience some sensitivity and gum soreness — this typically subsides. Before cementing your new bridge, the shade, contours, fit, and occlusion are carefully checked. If the bite still feels slightly off after a couple of days, get in touch with our office for a minor adjustment.
Surgery to place the dental implants is typically a minor surgical procedure performed on an outpatient basis. To facilitate precise placement, we’ll take several detailed diagnostic records, including 3D images of your jaws and the involved area.
Once the dental implants are placed, it can take a few months for them to fully integrate with the surrounding bone. In some cases, a same-day temporary bridge can be placed for an immediate cosmetically pleasing result. The permanent bridge is typically placed when healing and osseointegration are complete.
Dental issues affecting your smile can also have consequences on the health of the rest of the body. It’s why our office emphasizes the importance of prevention, routine checkups, and providing patients with the resources and care required to maintain good oral health that supports wellness.
