Restore your smile with custom-made dental bridges at Pasadena prosthodontist

Tooth decay, traumatic injuries, gum disease, or other issues can all lead to one or more teeth falling out or needing to be extracted. When this happens, you have many different options for replacing the missing teeth so that you can restore your smile back to its normal look and function as quickly as possible. Dental bridges are one of the most common and affordable treatments for missing teeth.

At Pasadena Prosthodontics, Drs. Baldwin and Christopher Marchack are prosthodontists that have specialized training in the treatment and replacement of missing teeth. Here, they explain what a dental bridge is and how it is used to bring back your beautiful smile.

What is a dental bridge?

Dental bridges are one of several ways that teeth can be replaced after they have been lost or extracted. A dental bridge consists of one or more artificial teeth (called “pontics”) in a row, with a dental crown or implant on each side of the artificial teeth that are used to anchor the bridge in place. Dental bridges are often considered a good option when:

• One or more teeth in a row are missing
• Your gums are healthy and free from gum disease
• You are looking for a more affordable tooth replacement option than one involving oral surgery
• If crowns will be used to affix the bridge, the existing teeth next to the gap are healthy enough to support crowns and are not likely to need future treatment such as a root canal
• If dental implants will be used to affix the bridge, the jawbone that will hold the implants needs to be healthy and strong

Metal-free bridges

Traditionally, dental crowns were made of a metal frame to provide structure and strength to the bridge and then they were coated with porcelain for a natural tooth-like appearance. However, research and experience have shown that some patients don’t do as well with metal in their dental appliances because it can cause allergic reactions, gives a graying appearance to the gums, and is less aesthetically pleasing than a more natural-looking material.

As a result, Dr. Baldwin Marchack and Dr. Christopher Marchack are proud to offer their patients all-ceramic bridges, which are a natural-looking, biocompatible alternative to traditional metal dental bridges. You may think of ceramic as highly breakable since it is used to create delicate goods such as pottery and fine china, but advances in dental-grade materials over the years have resulted in dental ceramic that is extremely sturdy. It is so strong, in fact, that it can even be used for your back molars, where you do the bulk of your tough grinding and chewing. Additionally, the natural-looking ceramic material provides a better cosmetic end result for front teeth so no one will ever know that you have a dental restoration in place!

The dental bridge procedure – what to expect

Typically, a dental bridge can be placed in as little as two appointments after you have discussed your treatment options with the dentist and determined that it is the best choice for you.

If a dental bridge using two crowns to anchor it in place will be used, the first step is to prepare the two neighboring teeth on each side of the gap for the placement of the crowns. To do this, the dentist reduces their size and shapes them so that the crowns can fit securely over the top of the teeth. Then, dental impressions are made of your mouth so that the bridge can be custom-fabricated to fit the exact dimensions of your mouth for a precise fit and natural appearance. We create the bridge at the laboratory right in our office at Pasadena Prosthodontics, eliminating the extra time it takes to ship dental impressions to an outside laboratory and ship the bridge back. After the impressions are taken, temporary crowns will be placed on the teeth so that you can still eat and speak normally while the permanent bridge is being created. Once your bridge is ready, you will come back to the office and Dr. Marchack will place the bridge onto your teeth and make sure that it fits perfectly before cementing it in place.

If the dentist has evaluated your teeth and determined that the teeth surrounding the gap from the missing tooth are not healthy enough to support crowns for the bridge placement, they may recommend that you have dental implants placed to support the bridge instead of crowns. Dental implants are posts that are surgically placed into your jawbone to act like the roots of your teeth. The implant and your jawbone fuse together to form an incredibly sturdy foundation for a false tooth, and can last a lifetime if taken care of properly.

Experience the Pasadena Prosthodontics difference

At Pasadena Prosthodontics, Drs. Baldwin and Christopher Marchack have devoted their practice to restoring healthy smiles for patients that are missing teeth or need a replacement for older dental work. They provide high-quality, compassionate care and have smile restoration options for all types of dental needs, patient preferences, and budgets. Call the office, conveniently located in the Pasadena, CA area, at 855.770.3737 to schedule a consultation today!