Dr. Huckin is happy to provide dental bridges for our Dallas, Texas patients.
Dental bridges are oral appliances secured to surrounding healthy teeth or implants. A dental bridge is often used to replace one or several consecutive missing teeth and help restore the look of your smile and the function of your bite.
The surrounding teeth quickly shift toward the empty space when you lose a tooth. This empty space becomes a good hiding place for bacteria, which can eventually lead to infection.
Replacing missing teeth as soon as possible is essential to reduce the risk of further damage or complications. Fortunately, Dr. Huckin offers customized dental bridges to promptly meet your smile’s needs.
Dental Bridges in Dallas TX
Receiving a dental bridge often requires more than one visit to our office. When it is determined that you need a dental bridge, Dr. Huckin will schedule you for a thorough evaluation of your teeth, gums, and jaw to ensure that you are a good candidate. The surrounding teeth will then be prepared for your new dental bridge.
Then, Dr. Huckin will take dental impressions to send off to our labs so that we can create your customized dental bridge. You will be given a temporary bridge while your dental bridge is being created. Once your dental bridge is created, we will schedule another appointment for you to return to our office so that we can attach it to your neighboring teeth.
For an implant-supported bridge, we start with the implant surgery. This involves placing dental implant posts in your jawbone. After this, these posts take about 3-6 months to heal properly. Once this process is complete, we can take impressions and fit you with your permanent dental bridge. Usually, we’ll provide you with a temporary restoration until you get your permanent one.
Traditional Vs. Implant-Secured Dental Bridge
A traditional dental bridge is usually removable and is anchored by two of your natural teeth. Dental crowns can be used to strengthen the anchor teeth as well. This option is ideal for when you want a restoration quickly. However, they’re not the best choice for longevity.
When you’re missing teeth, your jawbone continues to deteriorate. Your bridge may have to be readjusted or replaced as your jawbone changes.
Implant-supported dental bridges are a longer-lasting solution. Dental implants stop the jawbone from deteriorating, so you won’t have to keep adjusting your bridge. Implants fuse with your jawbone to give them greater stability and support.
Implants anchor the bridge, too, which means less stress on your natural teeth. When natural teeth are anchors, they’re more susceptible to damage and decay because of the stress of being anchored to teeth. While they last longer, they also take longer to get your final restoration.
Not every patient is eligible for dental implants. We’ll do a thorough oral exam and imaging at your initial consultation. Dental implants require a specific amount of healthy bone structure to succeed.
You regain your full bite function if you’re eligible for an implant-supported bridge. This is not the case with traditional bridges. Traditional bridges may fall out or break when you’re trying to bite into some harder foods, so you may not be able to return to the full diet you had before missing teeth.
As with our restorative procedures, you’ll consult Dr. Huckin before proceeding. He’ll talk to you about your goals and budget and do a thorough oral exam. We always ensure we give you the best possible restoration option for your unique case.
Caring for Your Dental Bridge
The longevity of your dental restoration depends on how well you take care of it. Traditional bridges and implant-supported bridges require some different steps when it comes to care. However, with all bridges, you must ensure brushing, flossing, and visiting the dentist office regularly.
With a traditional bridge, you have to remove it to clean it properly. Use a soft toothbrush and special cleaner to clean the device. Avoid abrasive toothpaste and severe cleaners, as this can damage the restoration. Like dentures, you can soak them overnight while sleeping for a deeper clean.
With a fixed bridge, you just have to brush and floss your teeth as you normally would. We’ll recommend certain oral healthcare products to ensure you have ones that won’t scratch or damage your restoration. We may have to teach you different flossing techniques so that you can floss properly around the bridge. If you need different tools to accomplish this, we’ll provide you with some to get started.
It’s crucial to keep up with regular dental visits, as we’ll examine the restoration and ensure it’s still performing as it should. If the fit has changed due to jawbone deterioration, we’ll need to discuss adjustment or replacement of your restoration. If there’s consistent wear or damage, we’ll talk to you about caring for that.
Especially if you have a traditional bridge, avoid biting down directly with the bridge on hard or sticky foods. Removable bridges aren’t as strong as those supported by implants. You can bend or break the bridge, rendering it unusable. Avoid biting your nails or using your teeth to open packages. This can damage any type of bridge.
Dental Bridge FAQs
Dental bridges can replace one or multiple consecutive missing teeth. Learn more about them by reading the answers to these commonly asked questions.
How often do I need to floss under my bridge?
Like between your teeth, you must floss around the bridge daily. Preferably, floss under the bridge after each meal that you consume. Since a bridge involves a floating prosthetic tooth or teeth, getting food and other debris stuck underneath the restoration is easy.
Is getting a dental bridge painful?
No, you shouldn’t feel any pain during the dental bridge process. We use a local anesthetic to numb the area before we prepare any natural teeth to get the dental bridge. If you experience implant surgery, you’ll feel some soreness and discomfort as the implants heal after the surgery.
How long does it take for my bridge to feel normal?
When you get a dental restoration, it takes a while for you to get used to it. Even if it’s the same size as your other teeth, it’s still a foreign entity in your mouth. It takes around two weeks for it to feel completely normal. After this, it should feel pretty natural in your mouth.
Why did my dental bridge start hurting?
If you’re experiencing pain with your dental bridge, it’s time to call our office. Bridge pain can be caused by tooth decay, a bridge that no longer fits properly, a dental abscess, or gum disease impacting the foundation. You should never feel pain while wearing your dental bridge.
When can I brush my teeth after getting my dental bridge?
During the first 24 hours, you must be delicate when brushing and flossing. You don’t want to loosen the bridge or the supporting dental crowns. Gently brush along the gum line around the bridge. When you thread floss at the gum line, don’t pull or tug on it aggressively, as this can impact the restoration.
Am I a good candidate for a dental bridge?
To get an implant-supported bridge, we must ensure you have enough healthy bone structure to support the implant posts. With both types, you must also be in good overall oral health. You have to treat conditions like gum disease if they’re present. Bad oral health can compromise the integrity of the dental restoration.
Schedule An Appointment
If you want to learn more about our implant-secured dental bridges, schedule an appointment today for a consultation with Dr. Huckin!