Dental Bridges in Houston, TX

Teeth that are damaged beyond repair or no longer have the support of healthy bone may need to be removed to improve your dental health. When this occurs, a gap in the arch is left behind. Replacing a tooth a soon as possible is important not only to your appearance and ability to speak and eat properly, but it also helps to keep surrounding teeth from migrating into this open space. Teeth that drift may become unbalanced and place your bite (how the upper and lower teeth meet) out of alignment. A dental bridge is a common restorative solution to replacing a missing tooth, maintaining oral health, and completing your smile after tooth loss.

At Made Ya Smile Dental West 8, we are pleased to offer high-quality fixed and removable bridges to fill gaps in the smile after teeth are lost. Bridges are fabricated of two or more dental crowns that are connected to form a single unit. Each end of the bridge attaches to surrounding healthy teeth or dental implants for support. By replacing a missing tooth with a custom dental bridge, you can once again enjoy normal biting and speaking function and a seamless, beautiful smile. Do not let tooth loss keep you from enjoying good oral health. Schedule a visit with a skilled general dentist at our Houston, TX practice and learn if a custom fixed or removable dental bridge is right for you.

Many patients find that there are several oral health benefits to dental bridges. The primary benefit of a dental bridge is that is provides support for the adjacent teeth, allowing our Houston, TX dentist to effectively restore your smile when you are missing a tooth. Other benefits of a dental bride include:

• Prevents the jawbone from deteriorating
• Prevents surrounding teeth from moving into an undesirable position
• Improved ability to chew and speak

Losing natural teeth can significantly impact your life in many ways. Along with changes to your facial shape and appearance, tooth loss can affect your ability to speak confidently and impact your ability to consume a nutritious diet. Dental bridges can restore your self-confidence by offering a seamless, natural-looking appearance and helping to maintain jaw contours and facial shape. Bridges also fill spaces left by one or more teeth that are missing in a row or from the same areas within the mouth. To improve your biting and chewing function, bridges efficiently replace missing teeth and redistribute biting forces equally around your mouth while keeping surrounding teeth in their proper places.

We customize fixed and removable dental bridges to bring confidence, health, function, and appearance to your smile after tooth loss. Made of two or more crowns molded together, bridges can be made of a variety of high-grade materials and custom-colored to blend evenly with your smile. The ends of a fixed bridge (abutments) are permanently bonded over surrounding teeth or dental implants that are healthy enough to support this restoration with the center unit (pontic) filling the open space and rising up from the gums for a natural look. Removable bridges attach to neighboring teeth through a set of metal or plastic clasps and are also created to provide a natural-looking cosmetic appeal.

Made Ya Smile Dental West 8 offers fixed and removable, implant-supported, cantilever, and Maryland-bonded bridges. To learn about your tooth replacement needs, our team will schedule a treatment consultation with our skilled general dentist. We will examine your mouth and let you know if your remaining teeth are strong and healthy enough to support a bridge. Our team will provide you with information on selecting from ceramic, porcelain fused to metal, or all-metal restorative materials and assist you in choosing the type of bridge that matches your aesthetic preferences, budget, and tooth replacement needs.

Our team is dedicated to making sure your entire bridge experience is comfortable and pleasant. In addition to using a gentle numbing technique for preparing your teeth for your bridge, we also offer sedation dentistry services to help you feel even more relaxed. Once your mouth is numb, We will remove some of the enamel from the teeth that will support your bridge (usually those on each side of the missing tooth site) to allow the ends of your bridge to fit comfortably over these anchor teeth. An impression of the prepared area will then be taken and sent to our dental lab for bridge fabrication. A temporary bridge will be placed for you to wear in the 1 – 2 weeks it takes to make your custom dental bridge. When your permanent bridge is ready, we will bring you back in and bond your new bridge in place. To ensure a comfortable fit, we will check and adjust your bite as needed.

Removable bridges do not require that your supported teeth be prepped. Instead, we will take an impression of your mouth that our lab will use to create your tooth replacement bridge. A few weeks later, we will schedule you back into our practice so that we can try in your bridge and make sure that the clasps holding it in place on your support teeth are comfortable yet secure.

Please allow any numbness in the gums from dental anesthesia received during your bridge prep visit to wear off before you eat anything. Tooth sensitivity on your prepared teeth may occur but will generally resolve once the permanent bridge is bonded in your mouth. If your temporary or permanent bridge happens to come loose or come off entirely, get in touch with us right away so that we can get you in to repair it. Your bridge is keeping the surrounding teeth in place and if you go for any length of time without wearing it, changes to your bite and fit of your bridge may occur.

To keep your bridge, underlying teeth, and gum tissues in good shape, it is important to brush and floss daily to remove plaque and food debris. Though your bridge may be made from porcelain or other material, the teeth supporting it are still at risk of decay. Our team will show you the best techniques to use for flossing and cleaning around and under your new dental bridge. Bridges, when cared for properly, can serve your oral health for several years. At your routine dental cleaning and exam visits at Made Ya Smile Dental West 8, we will check your bridge and supporting teeth to evaluate the health of your teeth, gums, and restoration.

Your dental insurance plan may offer some coverage toward your dental bridge for tooth replacement. A member of our Made Ya Smile Dental West 8 team will get in touch with your provider and review the details of your plan. Any personal costs for your dental care will be presented to you before we begin your treatment. Our team wants you to enjoy the highest quality care available for your dental needs. We will work with you to find a solution that matches your needs and fits within your budget. Our practice accepts a range of convenient payment options, including low-cost financing plans through CareCredit®.

How long does it take for my dental bridge to feel normal?
The majority of our patients will adjust to their dental bridge in about two weeks. Our team recommends using a toothpaste for sensitive teeth and avoiding hot and cold foods during the two weeks to help with any pain or discomfort.

How long will my bridge last?
If cared for properly, your dental bridge can last anywhere from 10 – 15 years or longer. Maintaining proper oral hygiene, getting biannual cleanings and annual exams, and receiving preventive care can all help your dental bridge last a long time. If you have any questions about your dental bridge, don't hesitate to get in touch with our Jersey Village, TX team.

Can a dental bridge be used for my front teeth?
Yes, a dental bridge can be done on both your front teeth and your back teeth. Your dentist will review your dental bridge options with you so that you receive the dental care that is right for you.

Replacing missing or severely damaged teeth with a custom dental bridge can bring function, health, and a natural appearance to your smile. Missing teeth may cause surrounding teeth to shift and result in the need for costlier or more extensive care. We customize fixed and removable dental bridges to meet your unique needs and help you overcome the challenges of tooth loss with ease. If a damaged or missing tooth is keeping you from loving your smile, contact Made Ya Smile Dental West 8 in Houston, TX and talk with our caring dentist about your tooth replacement options.