Dentistry

Modesto, Manteca, Ceres, Turlock, Salida, Ripon, California Dentist

Questions About Your Dental Bridge

What is a dental bridge?

A dental bridge is one or more false teeth supported by crowns placed on two or more of the neighboring teeth. The false tooth is attached to the crowns on either side of it, replacing a missing tooth. Dental bridges are used when:

There is too little healthy tooth structure left to support a crown
The gums and jaw cannot support a dental implant
Your Modesto family dentist decides it is the best replacement for your missing tooth

Dental bridges are made of metal, porcelain fused to metal, or porcelain-alumina materials.

How long will my dental bridge last?

Depending on the type of bridge and how well you care for it, your dental bridge will last as long as the teeth supporting the attached crowns last. A dental bridge may need to be replaced if it is broken or if the supporting teeth become weak or are lost. Most dental bridges do not have to be replaced, but may need to be repaired with porcelain onlays or tooth bonding if they are damaged.

How should I take care of my dental bridge?

Dental bridges work much like your natural teeth. You should brush them regularly, being sure to brush along the gum line, the inside, top, and outside of the bridge. You can floss between the crowns and under the false teeth of a dental bridge using a floss threader, and you should floss around the fixture to prevent plaque buildup and gum disease.

Will tooth whiteners work on my dental bridge?

No. We at Sierra Dental Care recommend that if you are looking to whiten your teeth then you should whiten your teeth first and plan on placing or replacing any needed restorations in the aesthetic areas of your smile.

Will my dental bridge look natural?

Obviously, a metal bridge will not look like your natural teeth. Because of this, most patients choose to have porcelain-fused-to-metal bridges. At Sierra Dental Care, we offer porcelain-fused-to-metal bridges created to look as much like your natural teeth as possible.

Porcelain can be made to resemble the natural hues of your surrounding teeth and can look similar to your natural teeth.