BAY RIDGE BROOKLYN, NY DENTIST
Dental Bridges
At the office of Bay Ridge Dental, we provide skilled and experienced care to help every patient enjoy the benefits of optimal oral health and a beautiful smile. For individuals who are missing teeth due to extensive decay, periodontal disease, trauma, the result of an illness, or side effect of medical treatment, we offer a comprehensive range of services to rebuild complete, attractive, and functional smiles.
How missing teeth impact the health and function of your smile
Missing teeth do more than cause embarrassing gaps in your smile. In the absence of a replacement, they can affect the health and function of your smile in the following ways:
Impair your ability to smile, speak, and chew with confidence and ease.
Allow the adjacent teeth to ever so slowly drift into the unoccupied spaces, thereby changing the alignment of your smile and bite.
Cause teeth in the opposing arch that no longer occlude with a counterpart to extrude and further compromise your bite.
Promote cavities and gum disease as the teeth shift out of place and impact the distribution of biting and chewing forces, and become more difficult to keep clean.
Rebuilding a complete smile
Although the consequences of missing teeth can compromise your dental health and overall well-being, modern dentistry offers effective solutions for reestablishing a complete, attractive, and well-functioning smile.
Today, thanks to advances in dental materials, technology, and treatment methods, it's easier than ever before to replace missing teeth and achieve aesthetically pleasing and long-lasting results.
Of course, each smile is different, and every patient has unique needs and individual expectations of care. Helping a patient rebuild a complete and beautiful smile may involve partial or full dentures, fixed dental bridges, or dental implants.
As skilled and experienced providers of care, the office of Bay Ridge Dental offers expert guidance on choosing the most suitable treatment option. Whatever type of tooth replacement method you select, you can feel confident that your smile will look good and feel great!
What to expect when getting a traditional bridge
Fixed bridges are typically fabricated over the course of multiple visits. The process involves the preparation of the supporting teeth, impression taking, the placement of a temporary bridge, and the try-in and cementation of the permanent restoration.
It begins with a complete diagnostic workup to develop an appropriate treatment plan. For patients getting a traditional fixed bridge, the next step in the procedure involves preparing the abutment (supporting) teeth for full-coverage crowns. Depending on the number of teeth involved and other factors, an impression of the permanent bridge can be taken on this visit or the next one. Either way, a temporary bridge or temporary crowns to cover the prepared teeth will be placed to protect the prepared teeth.
Following the preparation of the involved teeth, it's not unusual to experience some sensitivity and gum soreness. This discomfort typically subsides. However, since the fit of a temporary restoration is often less precise than the final permanent crown or bridge, you may still feel some residual sensitivity until treatment is completed.
Until the permanent crown or bridge is placed, it's essential to be extra careful. Temporary restorations are far less durable than permanent ones. If your temporary gets damaged or comes off, please hold on to it. Contact our office, and we will set up an appointment to replace it. Do not attempt to do this on your own.
Before cementing your new bridge, the shade, contours, fit, and occlusion are checked. Once that is done, your new, permanent restoration is placed. Since you have been wearing a temporary, your bite may feel slightly different, and you may feel some pressure as the new restoration reestablishes appropriate contact with the adjacent teeth. If the bite still feels slightly off after a couple of days or any discomfort persists, get in touch with our office. You may still require a minor adjustment.
What to expect when getting an implant-supported bridge
Surgery to place the dental implants is typically considered a minor surgical procedure and performed on an outpatient basis. However, the exact extent of the procedure depends upon the type and number of dental implants and whether or not any additional procedures are required to prepare the supporting bone.
As your trusted partner in care, you can count on our office to keep you well informed every step of the way. To facilitate the precise placement of dental implants for your implant-supported bridge, we'll take several detailed diagnostic records, including 3D images of your jaws and the involved area.
Patient care and comfort are our top priorities. We do everything we can to put you at ease and make every visit to our office both comfortable and stress-free. Prior to placing your dental implants, we'll discuss the anesthesia and options in dental sedation and provide detailed pre-op and post-op care instructions.
Once the dental implants for your bridge are placed, it can take a few months for them to fully integrate with the surrounding bone. In some cases, a same-day temporary bridge can be placed to provide an immediate and cosmetically pleasing look. However, the permanent bridge typically gets placed when healing and osseointegration (fusion) with the surrounding bone are complete.
FAQS
Will my smile feel any different?
Your new bridge is customized to the exact specifications of your smile. Before cementing to the underlying teeth or affixing it to the supporting implants, the shade, occlusion, and all aspects of its fit get carefully checked. In addition to being designed to blend seamlessly with your smile, it's also made to suit your bite and withstand all manner of oral functions. We take great care to make sure your new restoration looks great, fits well, and that your bite feels comfortable.
Does dental insurance cover the cost of a bridge?
Replacing missing teeth with a dental bridge is a worthwhile investment in the look, health, and function of your smile. While many dental insurances offer coverage for a dental bridge, and some toward the cost of implants, the benefits and amounts can vary significantly from plan to plan. At the office of Bay Ridge Dental, we understand the financial considerations involved in care and do all we can to help patients begin treatment without any additional stress or delay. In addition to doing our best to optimize your dental benefits, we also offer several payment and financing options. Feel free to contact our office if you have any questions on the cost of care, dental insurances, financing plans, or acceptable forms of payment.
What's the best way to care for my new bridge?
Now that your new permanent crown or bridge is in place, it's essential to maintain good oral hygiene. With proper care, your new restorations will last for years to come. Make sure to brush and floss as instructed. We'll show you how to floss under your dental bridge to keep your new smile clean and bright. Remember to make appointments for your routine checkups and professional cleanings.
How long can a bridge last?
The standard answer is that with routine dental visits and good home care, a bridge can last ten to fifteen years and, in many cases, much longer.
Why choose our office?
At the office of Bay Ridge Dental, we fabricate your bridge from the highest quality dental materials to achieve the most cosmetically pleasing and lifelike results of care. It's also customized to the exact specifications of your smile and designed for optimal aesthetics, strength, and stability. Once fabricated and cemented into place, you'll feel confident sharing your smile, speaking, and eating your favorite foods.
As your trusted partner in care, we analyze every aspect of your smile to develop a treatment plan that provides aesthetically pleasing, healthy, and long-lasting results of care.
For more information on dental bridges, or any services we provide, give us a call today.