Dental Bridges Specialist
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Image Aesthetic Dentistry
Roger N. Gilbert, DDS
Cosmetic and General Dentist & Facial Aesthetics located in Loma Linda, CA
If you’re missing a single permanent tooth or several teeth in a row, dental bridges can restore your smile and improve your oral health. At Image Aesthetic Dentistry, Roger Gilbert, DDS, and the team offer both fixed and removable dental bridges. To make an appointment at the practice in Loma Linda, California, call the office or click the online booking tool today.
Dental Bridges Q&A
What are dental bridges?
Dental bridges are custom-crafted restorations that fill a gap caused by one or several permanent teeth. Aside from improving the aesthetic appearance of your smile, dental bridges lower the risk of more serious oral health problems, including gum recession, bone loss, and shifting teeth.
What are the types of dental bridges?
At Image Aesthetic Dentistry, the team offers several types of dental bridges, including:
Removable bridges
Removable bridges are similar to partial dentures. They have an artificial tooth (or teeth) that connects to pink artificial gums and a metal base. The base snaps into place around your existing, healthy teeth, ensuring a comfortable fit.
Fixed bridges
Fixed bridges rely on crowns, a wire framework, or dental implants for support. Once bonded in place, they look and function like your natural teeth, allowing you to bite, chew, and speak confidently.
What does getting dental bridges involve?
At Image Aesthetic Dentistry, getting dental bridges takes at least two appointments.
First appointment
Your provider conducts an oral exam, asks about your goals, and takes digital X-rays. If you decide to get an implant-supported fixed bridge, the team refers you to an oral surgeon in the area who performs the implant placement procedure.
If you elect to get a removable bridge, a fixed bridge supported by crowns, or a metal framework, your provider takes digital impressions with an intraoral scanner. Then, they send your impressions to a dental laboratory that designs and manufactures your bridge.
Second appointment
When the lab completes your fixed or removable bridge, you return to Image Aesthetic Dentistry. Your provider administers a local anesthetic, lines up the bridge with the gap in your smile, and bonds it in place. Then, they polish the bridge and provide care instructions.
Will dental bridges last forever?
Dental bridges don’t last forever, but with good care and routine checkups, they typically last 12-15 years. The team at Image Aesthetic Dentistry recommends visiting the office two times a year for an oral exam and professional teeth cleaning and brushing and flossing daily.
Wear a mouthguard if you grind your teeth to prevent damage to the bridge and avoid bad habits like nail-biting or chewing on hard objects like ice or popcorn kernels.
To further explore dental bridges, make an appointment at Image Aesthetic Dentistry by calling the office or by clicking the online booking tool today.
