Dental Bridges in Spring, TX

Tooth loss can impact much more than just the way your smile looks. If you're missing one or more teeth, your bite (how your upper and lower teeth fit together) can shift, potentially affecting your ability to speak and eat normally. Gaps in the smile caused by tooth loss may cause neighboring teeth to move out of their ideal positions. At Made Ya Smile Rayford, our dentist is proud to offer dental bridges to help restore function and replace a missing tooth.

Dental bridges attach to existing teeth on either side of your missing tooth. Made of two or more dental crowns, bridges fill the open spaces in your arch, returning proper function and a natural appearance to your mouth. Our custom-made fixed and removable bridges come in a variety of high-end materials, helping you make the best choice to correct issues caused by the loss of your natural tooth. A dental bridge is an appliance made of two or more dental crowns that attach to existing teeth on either side of a missing tooth. Missing teeth don't have to majorly impact your oral health. Find out today if a bridge can help improve your smile by calling our Spring, TX offices to schedule a consultation.

A dental bridge for teeth replacement is a device that supports dental restorations that are used as tooth replacement. There are a variety of aesthetic and oral health benefits of getting a dental bridge. Some of them include:

• Rejuvenated smile by replacing teeth
• Prevent surrounding teeth from shifting
• Improved speaking and eating ability
• Maintains the natural shape of the face
• Prevents jawbone deterioration

It's important to replace missing teeth for many reasons, not just to fix the appearance of your smile. A diminished facial profile and speech difficulties can arise from tooth loss, and it can impact your ability to eat a wide variety of foods. These things can greatly impact your comfort, health, and wellness. A custom dental bridge for spaces in the mouth missing more than one tooth can bring you health and confidence in your smile again. With a bridge, proper bite distribution can be restored, the shape of your face can be maintained, and existing teeth can be held in place.

Neighboring healthy teeth are necessary for fixed bridges to work. These cosmetic and restorative appliances can go a long way toward helping you regain a natural appearance, as they're custom-shaped and shaded to match the color of your surrounding teeth. For these restorations, three or more crowns are connected and each end of the bridge (abutment) attaches over the teeth on either side of the space or two dental implants placed in the jawbone. Replacing the missing tooth, the middle crown (pontic) offers a natural look.  

Available in our office are fixed and removable, cantilever, implant-supported, and Maryland-bonded bridges of porcelain-fused-to-metal or ceramic chosen to match the color of your surrounding teeth. In some cases, we can create a bridge out of a high-end metal like gold. Our dentist and the Made Ya Smile Rayford team are happy to answer your questions about bridges. We encourage you to reach out to our offices today to schedule an appointment to find out if your teeth are healthy enough to support a bridge and help you choose the best option for your optimal oral health.

A local anesthetic will be administered prior to your fixed bridge procedure. If you're nervous about visiting the dentist, sedation dentistry services are also available. During the procedure, our talented team will remove a bit of the enamel from the neighboring teeth, helping the bridge to fit completely over the tooth structure, allowing the bridge to be supported fully on these teeth. At this time, an impression of your teeth will be taken and sent to our lab where they will create your custom dental bridge. For 1 – 2 weeks while your bridge is being built, you will wear a temporary bridge so you can speak and eat normally. Once your permanent bridge is returned to our office, we will have you return to complete the procedure by cementing your tooth replacement over the supporting teeth or attaching it securely to your dental implants. At that time, our dentist will ensure your bite is comfortable and make any adjustments that are necessary.

Our lab custom-crafts removable bridges as well, from impressions taken of your teeth. Attaching to the surrounding teeth with plastic or metal clasps, removable bridges usually do not require preparation of the support teeth. You will be able to easily remove your bridge as needed for cleaning.

Your cheeks, tongue, and lips will be numb after your bridge prep visit, and you should avoid eating until the numbness has worn off. It's likely your teeth will feel a bit sensitive for a few days after you receive your temporary bridge. If you lose your temporary or permanent bridge, or if it becomes loose, reach out to us as soon as possible for a replacement. Loss of a temporary bridge is problematic as this bridge holds the place in your mouth for your permanent bridge, which may not fit properly if you don't replace the loose temporary bridge.

Good, daily home care is important for maintaining excellent oral health and keeping your supporting teeth and surrounding gum tissues clean and healthy. When you have a fixed bridge, home care changes a little, and our team of experts will show you how to brush and floss properly around your new appliance at your final appointment. During your routine cleaning and exam appointments, our dentist and team will monitor your bridge to make sure it still meets your needs. Your dental bridge can last for many years with appropriate care.

Your dental bridge procedure may be covered in part by your dental insurance. The team at Made Ya Smile will reach out to your provider to review your specific benefits. We accept most PPO plans and are able to work with you to cover out-of-pocket expenses, through our flexible payment plans, including convenient patient-financing with CareCredit®. We're proud to do our part to make dental care affordable for every family.

How long does it take for my dental bridge to feel normal?
When you get dental bridges at our Spring, TX location, you can expect about a two-week healing process. You may experience slight discomfort during this time; however, toothpaste designed for sensitive teeth should help alleviate any pain.

How long will my bridge last?
Your dental bridge should last anywhere for 10 – 15 years or more. If you keep up with a healthy dental routine at home and visit our office for your bi-annual cleanings and annual exams, we will check your bridge to ensure it's still working effectively.

Can you eat normally with a dental bridge?
Whether you got a bridge for your front or back teeth, you can expect them to look, act, and feel like normal teeth. Because of this, there are no food or drink restrictions.

Restoring a tooth is not just about returning your smile to a radiant, natural look, it's important for your overall health and to help you function normally. Missing teeth can cause costlier, more extensive care down the road if they aren't replaced. Our skilled dentist is pleased to offer removable and fixed bridges to Spring, TX patients. These appliances are customized to meet your specific oral health needs and replace missing and damaged teeth. Our team of experts is focused on getting you the smile solutions that are right for you. Call us today to schedule your treatment consultation at Made Ya Smile Rayford.