Dental Bridges – Evansville, WI

Get Back Your Full, Functional Smile

There are many reasons a tooth might be lost – a blow to the mouth, a necessary extraction, damage from cavities, and so on. If you’re missing multiple teeth in a row, a dental bridge can be a great solution. At Maple Grove Family Dental in Evansville, we can give you a customized restoration that will increase your quality of life and can boost your overall confidence. Make an appointment with us today for a consultation.

Why Choose Maple Grove Family Dental for Dental Bridges?

• Comfortable, functional tooth replacements
• Warm, welcoming office
• Nitrous oxide for easing dental anxieties

What is a Dental Bridge?

A dental bridge consists of multiple crowns – prosthetic teeth – and can be made of a wide variety of materials. There are two kinds of bridges: traditional bridges and implant-retained bridges. A traditional bridge is supported by natural teeth on either side; bridges retained by implants are instead supported by metal posts surgically inserted in the jaw.

Am I a Candidate for a Dental Bridge?

Generally speaking, bridges are used when one to three consecutive teeth are missing. You should have excellent oral hygiene and good health overall; issues such as gum disease can potentially lead to complications and will need to be addressed before the bridge can be placed.

For traditional bridges, the surrounding natural teeth need to be strong enough to support the crowns that will be placed over them. On the other hand, if your bridge will be held by an implant, your jawbone will need to be dense enough for successful osseointegration. We’ll examine the state of your mouth to figure out if restorative dental work is a viable option.

 Benefits of Dental Bridges

With a dental bridge, you can:

• Replace two or more teeth in a row
• Create a full, functional smile
• Regain the ability to eat and speak normally
• Keep the forces in your bite well-distributed
• Prevent the remaining natural teeth from drifting out of position

Note that bridges supported by dental implants will have additional health benefits. The implants will interface with the jaw and provide the stimulation that natural teeth usually provide; this prevents bone loss and keeps the jawbone healthy and strong. Also, the stability of the implants grants them additional chewing power. That said, we’ll help you determine whether a traditional or implant-retained bridge would work best in your situation.

Caring for a Dental Bridge

A dental bridge can last anywhere from 5 to 15 years – or even longer! However, this lifespan depends largely on good maintenance and oral hygiene. To take care of your new teeth:

• Continue regular brushing and flossing. Use a fluoride toothpaste that’s more effective at fighting plaque. Don’t forget to floss the space underneath the bridge.
• Rinse with fluoride.
• Be careful of hard foods like nut shells and hard candy.
• Continue coming to Maple Grove Dental twice a year for checkups and preventive cleanings!