Dental Bridges – Frederick, MD
Improve Your Quality of Life With Custom-Crafted Restorations
Bridge the gap between missing teeth with custom-created restorations that will improve your oral health, ability to speak and chew, and the look of your smile. When you leave missing teeth unreplaced, it can have detrimental impacts on your quality of life down the road. When you visit your dentist in Frederick, we can provide you with a consultation to make sure that a dental bridge is the best choice for you. We also utilize high-quality materials and the latest technology to ensure that our restorations are built to last and look as natural as possible.
Why Choose My Frederick Dentist For a Dental Bridge?
- 3 Expert Dentists on Staff
- Patient-Focused Care
- State-of-the-Art Facility
What is a Dental Bridge?
If you have a gap in your smile because of missing teeth and want to close it, getting a dental bridge in Frederick could do the trick. This restoration is comprised of two crowns on either side of a replacement tooth that are anchored to your natural teeth to literally bridge the gap in your mouth. Typically, these restorations are made from natural-colored materials like porcelain and are fused with metal or ceramic.
What is the Procedure of Getting a Dental Bridge?
During your first visit with one of our three highly trained dentists on staff, we’ll be happy to answer any questions you may have. We’ll also begin preparing your teeth that will anchor the restoration by recontouring them so the crowns can securely fit over them. After that, we’ll take impressions of them to send to our dental lab to craft your bridge to our specifications. There’s no need to worry though, we’ll place a temporary bridge to protect the area while we’re waiting for your custom bridge to arrive at our office.
Once your permanent restoration arrives, we’ll schedule your second appointment to remove your temporary bridge and make sure your new one fits properly. After making any necessary adjustments to the framework to make sure your bite is even, we’ll use dental cement to attach it. If you have any questions about maintenance or any concerns, you’re more than welcome to contact us.
What is an Implant-Retained Bridge?
Similar to traditional bridges, ones that are retained by implants are natural-looking, customized prosthetics that act to replace missing teeth. The difference is, these are anchored to two surgically placed titanium posts that are fused with your jawbone. They don’t just replace the visible portion of your teeth, but also the root. The gives the restoration added strength, durability, and a longer lifespan. We typically recommend implant-retained bridges for patients who have lost two or more consecutive teeth.
Replacing your pearly whites is vital to your oral and overall wellbeing, which is why we recommend contacting us today if you’d like to schedule a consultation or have any questions. We would be more than happy to help you regain your grin and boost your confidence!
Dental Bridges FAQs
Can I Still Get Cavities If I Have a Dental Bridge?
Just because your teeth are supporting a bridge doesn’t mean they’re immune to decay. Food particles and bacteria can still get trapped underneath your restoration and cause cavities, which is why it’s imperative that you brush and floss every day. Additionally, visit us at least twice a year for a routine checkup and cleaning. During these appointments, we can detect early signs of cavities and get them treated before they cause any serious damage.
How Long Will My Bridge Last?
A traditional bridge can last from five to ten years, but some patients manage to make theirs last even longer. Your bridge’s lifespan depends on a few things, such as your dedication to oral hygiene, the materials used to create the bridge, and where in your mouth the bridge is located.
An implant-retained bridge, on the other hand, can last significantly longer. The implants forge a powerful bond with your jawbone. While the bridge may need to be replaced every decade or so, dental implants can potentially last a lifetime.
Does Getting a Dental Bridge Hurt?
Whether your natural teeth need to be altered to support a bridge or you’re getting implants placed, your mouth will be numbed with a potent local anesthetic before the procedure begins. After the numbness wears off, you may be sore or sensitive, but it’s nothing that a little bit of ibuprofen or acetaminophen can’t fix.
How Is a Dental Bridge Different from a Partial Denture?
The main difference between the two is that a partial denture is removable, while a bridge is fixed. Only a dental professional can remove a bridge. Also, a bridge replaces several missing teeth in a row, while a partial denture can replace multiple missing teeth no matter where they are in your mouth. Feel free to ask us which solution would be better for you.
How Many Missing Teeth Can a Bridge Replace?
In most cases, a dental bridge can replace up to four consecutive missing teeth at once. However, this depends on the state of your remaining teeth. Bridges rely on the support of these teeth to stay in place, so they must be in good condition. If yours are unable to provide the support a bridge requires, or if you’re missing teeth on both sides of your mouth, you might be a better candidate for a partial denture instead.
Can You Take a Dental Bridge Out?
No – unlike partial dentures and other such restorations, a dental bridge is not designed to be removed. Attempting to take it out on your own could harm your prosthetic or the anchoring natural teeth underneath. If you need to have your bridge replaced or inspected, please call our office so we can take care of it with our special tools!
Can Dental Bridges Be Whitened?
While we may be able to breathe new life into your bridge with a general polish, the bleaching agents we use for teeth whitening will not work effectively. The formula is specially designed to slip through the pours in dental enamel, not porcelain or metal!
For patients wanting to whiten their smile, we recommend doing so before receiving or replacing your dental bridge in Frederick. That way, we can color-match your new restoration to the exact shade of your brightened teeth.
Do Dental Bridges Feel Natural?
It might feel a bit strange to have a new bridge in your mouth, but as you get used to it, it should start to seem more and more natural. Since your restoration will be completely customized, you can rest assured it will fit comfortably over your smile gap. The materials are also quite durable and smooth, so you shouldn’t have difficulties or discomfort while eating or talking. Overall, the vast majority of patients find that their bridge is barely noticeable!
How Do I Clean Under My Dental Bridge?
Since the teeth supporting and surrounding your bridge can still develop cavities, it’s important to clean bacteria out from underneath the restoration! Fortunately, there are a couple of different ways you can do this, so do what works best for you. For example:
- You can use a floss threader to slide traditional floss underneath your bridge. Once you’ve done that, simply pull the floss back and forth. Don’t forget to get the sides of the anchoring teeth!
- Interdental brushes are more like regular toothbrushes, except they’re much smaller. They’re specifically designed to fit into tight spaces, making them a perfect tool for cleaning underneath your bridge.
- With a water flosser, you can simply aim a gentle stream of water at the underside of your restoration. The water pressure will do the rest!