Our West Michigan dentists know how impactful tooth loss can be on your life. If it doesn’t mess with your daily eating habits, missing teeth can interfere with how you speak to others. One of the ways we can help is by placing a dental bridge. To be a candidate, you must have either healthy natural teeth already present on both sides of the empty socket or be eligible for dental implants.

Learn more about dental bridges below.

How Does a Dental Bridge Work?

When it comes to how a tooth bridge is structured, it’s relatively straightforward. Traditionally, there are two dental crowns and an artificial tooth in the middle. The two crowns are placed on adjacent teeth, or implants, and the false tooth is bonded in the middle so it rests on the gum line. Like the name suggests, a dental bridge “bridges” the gap left behind by a missing tooth.

When chosen, a dental bridge can:

  • Repair your smile after losing one or multiple teeth
  • Prevent further tooth loss
  • Help maintain your face shape
  • Improve your ability to chew and speak

Our dentists will discuss with you the possibility of dental implant surgery should the teeth on either side of the gap prove to not be in good condition or present. We want your bridge to be a success and last for many years so we’ll explore all avenues with you to make sure that becomes a reality.

Step One: Dental Bridge Preparation

During your first appointment with us, our dentists will need to remove a portion of enamel from teeth on both sides of the empty socket. We do this to make room for the dental crowns to comfortably sit on top of your teeth. Next, our dentists will take impressions of your teeth to send to a dental lab where your permanent bridge will be made. In the meantime, we’ll place a temporary bridge to protect your smile.

You can expect to wait a few weeks for the fabrication stage of the dental bridge process to be complete. Of course, throughout this time, we’ll keep you informed so you know when we’ve received the final restoration. If implants are required, this timeline will be affected by the oral surgery and associated healing period.

Step Two: Fitting of the Final Bridge

Once your dental bridge is ready, we’ll have you back in one of our offices. Our dentists will remove the temporary bridge and replace it with the permanent one. We’ll check the fit of the bridge itself and make any necessary adjustments until it’s perfect. If all looks and feels good, our dentists will cement the bridge in place, answer any questions you might have, and send you on your way!

Ask About a Dental Bridge Today

Overcoming tooth loss is possible with a beautiful bridge from our dentists serving West Michigan. Call one of our MI Smiles Dental locations down below to schedule an appointment and get started!

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