Missing a tooth changes more than your smile. Depending on where the space is, it can affect how you chew, how your bite feels and even how comfortable you are talking or smiling around other people.
A dental bridge is one way to close that space without using a removable denture. If you’re still weighing your options, our guide to replacing lost teeth explains some of the different approaches.
But if your dentist has recommended one, there’s usually another question right behind it: What is actually involved in getting a dental bridge?
The dental bridge procedure usually takes place over more than one appointment. There is some preparation involved, you’ll often wear a temporary bridge while the permanent one is being made, and then you’ll return to have the final bridge fitted and secured.
Here’s how the process generally works.
What Is a Dental Bridge?
A traditional dental bridge replaces a missing tooth, or sometimes multiple teeth in a row, with an artificial tooth called a pontic. Crowns placed over the natural teeth on either side of the gap help hold the replacement tooth in position.
That’s where the “bridge” idea comes from. The restoration quite literally bridges the space between teeth.
Not every bridge is designed the same way. Depending on where the missing tooth is located and the condition of the surrounding teeth, your dentist may recommend a traditional bridge or another type of restoration.
At Shorewood Family Dental Care, we evaluate your teeth, bite and overall oral health before recommending the right approach. You can learn more about our dental bridge options in Shorewood and the restorative treatments available at our office.
What Happens During a Dental Bridge Procedure?
For a traditional bridge supported by natural teeth, the teeth next to the empty space (called the abutment teeth) need to be prepared for crowns.
Your dentist removes a small amount of enamel from these teeth so the crowns that support the bridge can fit properly. The area is numbed with local anesthetic beforehand. Once the teeth are prepared, impressions or digital scans are taken. These provide the measurements needed to create a bridge that fits your mouth and works with your bite.
The permanent bridge isn’t usually made while you’re sitting in the dental chair. The information collected during your appointment is used to create your custom restoration.
And that means you need something in the meantime.
Will I Get a Temporary Dental Bridge?
In many traditional bridge cases, yes. A temporary dental bridge protects the prepared teeth and helps maintain the space while your permanent restoration is being made. It also gives you something to chew and smile with rather than leaving the prepared area exposed.
Temporary means temporary, though.
It isn’t designed to have the same strength or longevity as your final bridge, so you’ll need to be somewhat careful with it. Very hard or sticky foods can pull on or damage a temporary restoration. Your dentist will give you instructions for eating, brushing and caring for the area until it’s time for the permanent bridge.
When Is the Permanent Dental Bridge Pla
ced?
Once your permanent bridge is ready, you’ll return to the office for another appointment.
Before anything is permanently secured, your dentist needs to check it.
Does the bridge fit correctly? Does your bite feel right? Is the shape comfortable? How does it look next to your natural teeth Small adjustments can be made when necessary. Once your dentist is satisfied with the fit, the permanent dental bridge can be cemented into place.
That’s the point where the gap in your smile is restored with a fixed restoration. With a permanent bridge, you don’t need to remove it at night the way you would a removable denture.
How Long Does the Dental Bridge Procedure Take?
The answer depends partly on what your mouth needs before the bridge can be made.
If the missing tooth is already gone and the surrounding teeth are healthy, treatment may move directly into preparing the teeth and creating the bridge.
If a tooth first needs to be extracted or another dental problem needs treatment, there may be additional healing or treatment time involved.
Once bridge treatment begins, you’ll generally need at least two appointments: one to prepare the teeth and take the necessary impressions or scans, and another to fit and place the finished bridge. Your individual timeline may vary depending on the type of bridge and the work required.
Does Getting a Dental Bridge Hurt?
The preparation itself shouldn’t be painful because the area is numbed with local anesthetic.
You may notice some soreness or sensitivity afterward, particularly around teeth that have been prepared for crowns. For many people, this is temporary.
Don’t assume significant or persistent pain is simply something you have to live with, though. If something doesn’t feel right after treatment, call your dentist.
How Long Does It Take to Get Used to a Dental Bridge?
A new bridge can feel strange at first. There’s suddenly a tooth where there used to be an empty space, and your tongue and bite have to get accustomed to the change.
Give yourself a little time.
As you adjust, the bridge should begin to feel much more like a normal part of your mouth. If your bite continues to feel uneven or you have persistent discomfort, let your dentist know. Sometimes an adjustment is needed.
How Long Does a Dental Bridge Last?
Dental bridges can last for many years, but there isn’t one expiration date that applies to everyone.
The condition of the supporting teeth matters. So does your oral hygiene, your bite, whether you grind or clench your teeth, and how well you clean underneath and around the bridge.
That’s an important distinction: the artificial tooth itself can’t develop a cavity, but the natural teeth supporting the bridge still can. Protecting those teeth is a big part of protecting the bridge.
How Do You Clean Under a Dental Bridge?
You can brush the visible surfaces of a bridge much like your natural teeth, but ordinary floss can’t simply pass down between the connected crowns and replacement tooth.
You still need to clean underneath.
Floss threaders, interdental brushes and water flossers are some of the tools that may help clean around a bridge. Your dental team can show you what works best for your particular restoration.
And don’t skip routine exams just because the bridge feels fine. Regular dental cleanings and exams give us a chance to monitor the bridge as well as the teeth and gums supporting it.
Is a Dental Bridge the Right Choice for a Missing Tooth?
Sometimes it is. Sometimes another option makes more sense.
Dental implants, bridges and removable tooth-replacement options solve the same basic problem in different ways. The health of your remaining teeth, the location and number of missing teeth, bone support, your preferences and other clinical considerations can all affect the recommendation.
That’s why we wouldn’t tell someone they need a bridge simply because they’re missing a tooth.
We need to see what’s actually going on first.
Considering a Dental Bridge Near Joliet or Shorewood?
If you’re missing a tooth and wondering whether a bridge could work for you, come talk with us.
Shorewood Family Dental Care serves patients from Shorewood, Joliet and surrounding communities, and we can examine the area, explain your tooth-replacement options and walk you through what the dental bridge procedure would involve in your particular case.
Call 815-725-5991 to schedule an appointment.
