Dental Bridges – Garland, TX
Seamlessly Close the Empty Space in Your Smile
Do you have a gap in your mouth where one of more teeth used to be? If so, you’re far from alone; about 140 million adults in the U.S have lost at least one permanent tooth, according to the American College of Prosthodontists. However, just because tooth loss is common doesn’t mean it’s no big deal. Not replacing your missing teeth can lead to oral health problems later on – not to mention the chewing difficulties and self-confidence issues it may cause in the present. One of the easiest ways to seamlessly close the empty space in your smile is with a dental bridge in Garland, TX. This lifelike prosthetic will help you eat your favorite foods with ease and smile without worrying about any unsightly gaps. To learn more about how dental bridges can improve your day-to-day life, we invite you to schedule a consultation with our Dentistry by Brand team today!
Why Choose Dentistry by Brand for Dental Bridges?
- Trusted by Garland Families for 30+ Years
- Dental Implant Bridges Placed & Restored Under One Roof
- New Dental Office with State-of-the-Art Technology
What Is a Dental Bridge?
A dental bridge is a set of artificial teeth, usually made from tooth-colored materials like porcelain. Because these materials can be color-matched to your natural tooth enamel, people who see you smile won’t even be able to notice that you’ve had any dental work done.
The bridge consists of two dental crowns with one or more replacement teeth strung between them. These crowns are fitted over the remaining teeth on either side of the empty space, allowing the prosthetic to literally “bridge” the gap!
Types of Dental Bridges
When you meet with your dentist in Garland, TX for a tooth replacement consultation, we’ll spend some time learning about the goals you have in mind for your smile. We’ll also examine your mouth and review your medical and oral health history. From there, we can develop a clear picture of which type of dental bridge would best suit your needs.
Traditional Dental Bridge
Replacing one or more missing teeth in a row is simple with a traditional dental bridge. The natural teeth that will support the restoration will need to be slightly reshaped in order to provide full support, but you can look forward to many years of enjoying a full, functional smile.
Implant Bridge
Alternatively, we can bring back multiple consecutive missing teeth by anchoring a bridge onto two dental implants . These titanium posts are surgically placed on each end of the gap, where they naturally integrate with your jawbone over the course of several months. At that point, we’ll secure the bridge into place. Implant bridges tend to feel more natural, last longer, and restore more chewing function than traditional ones. Plus, they don’t require any of your existing teeth to be modified.
The Benefits of Getting a Dental Bridge
If you replace one or more missing teeth with a dental bridge, you can enjoy numerous benefits. These include:
- Preventing your remaining teeth from drifting out of alignment.
- The ability to eat delicious and nutritious foods without worry.
- Reducing the risk of oral health problems by making it easier to brush and floss.
- Easy maintenance.
- Tooth replacement that can last for up to 15 years (traditional bridge) or even 30+ years (implant bridge).
- Lifelike solution that effortlessly blends in with the adjacent teeth.
- Preventing the jawbone loss that often accompanies missing teeth (with an implant bridge).
If you’d like to find out whether a dental bridge in Garland, TX is right for you, please contact us !
Dental Bridges FAQs
The process of replacing missing teeth can sometimes feel a little intimidating; you know that you need your pearly whites replaced, but you might have a lot of questions surrounding options like dental bridges. Here at Dentistry by Brand, our skilled team would be more than happy to help answer your questions and put any doubts you have about getting a dental bridge to rest. We’ve gathered a few of the most frequently asked questions that we receive about dental bridges along with their respective answers so that you’ll have access to the information you need. Of course, if you have any other questions about dental bridges in Garland, don’t hesitate to give us a call!
Is Getting a Dental Bridge Painful?
If you’re hesitant about the prospect of any kind of dental work, you aren’t alone—many patients are apathetic about receiving restorations like dental bridges due to concerns about pain. However, before preparing your teeth to support a bridge, we’ll numb the affected area so that you don’t feel any discomfort during the appointment. In fact, in most cases, a topical anesthetic is all that’s necessary! That said, it’s still normal for some patients to feel some discomfort in the affected area for a few days after receiving their bridge, but over-the-counter pain relievers and cold compresses can help to alleviate some of this pain. If things don’t seem to improve after a few days, don’t wait to give us a call—it might be a sign of a complication!
What Can You Not Eat with a Dental Bridge?
Even though dental bridges restore a significant amount of oral functionality, you should still exercise caution around certain foods if you want your restoration to last for several years. Problematic foods include particularly sticky and chewy items, since they can loosen your bridge or even remove it entirely from your teeth! Try to avoid excessive amounts of caramel, fruit gummies, and sticky candies like taffy. You should also be mindful of extra-hard or crunchy foods that might damage your bridge when you’re biting into them. You should feel encouraged to maintain a healthy diet if possible; simply making smart dietary choices will go a long way toward keeping your bridge, as well as the rest of your pearly whites, in great shape.
How Long Should a Dental Bridge Last?
On average, you can expect your dental bridge to last between 5 and 15 years, but this will vary from patient to patient. One factor that contributes to a dental bridge’s lifespan is what material it’s composed of; metal bridges often last longer than metal-free ones, however, oral hygiene, diet, and lifestyle choices usually play a much larger contributing role. Bad habits like smoking or nail-biting can significantly shorten the lifespan of a bridge. It’s also worth noting that bridges used to replace front teeth often last longer than bridges used to replace molars, due to the pressure differences they’re subjected to. The bottom line is that the healthier your mouth is, the longer you can expect your restoration to last!
Are Dental Bridges Covered by Insurance?
The short answer here is yes, in most cases, dental bridges are at least partially covered by dental insurance; however, since the level of coverage can vary between different providers and plans, you should always check the specifics of your coverage before committing to treatment. Most dental plans consider a dental bridge to be a major (and necessary) procedure, meaning that 40% - 50% of the total cost is often covered, assuming your deductible has been met. There might also be other ways of making dental bridges more affordable outside of insurance coverage, including in-house savings plans and third-party financiers like CareCredit.