Bridges

Pike & Valega, DDS, located in Poolesville and Rockville, MD, is committed to helping patients restore their smiles. If you are missing a tooth or a set of teeth close together yet the rest of your teeth are strong and healthy, you may be a good candidate for a dental bridge.

Learn more about this restorative dental treatment option.

What Is a Dental Bridge?

A dental bridge is a custom-made dental appliance with artificial teeth used to replace a single missing tooth or a series of missing teeth. With the support of surrounding teeth and the use of dental cement, the dental bridge is held securely into place.

There are types of dental bridges: fixed dental bridge and implant-supported dental bridge.

Fixed dental bridges uses crowns placed over the top of the supporting teeth to hold the artificial teeth in place.
An implant-supported dental bridge is supported by tiny metal posts that have been surgically placed into your jaw bone.

Why Is It So Important To Replace Missing Teeth?

Missing just one tooth can cause a number of problems, including:

• Difficulty speaking or eating
• Problems with your bite – A missing tooth on the bottom jaw can cause teeth on the upper jaw to shift or change position, which can lead to problems with your bite.
• Crooked or misaligned teeth – The gap caused by the missing tooth will cause the surrounding teeth to shift positions.
• Increased risk for tooth decay or gum disease – Improperly aligned teeth are more difficult to clean. If your teeth start to shift because of a gap caused by a missing tooth, it puts you at an increased risk for developing tooth decay or gum disease.
• Bone loss – Bone loss can cause a number of problems, from changes in your facial structure to the loss of additional teeth.

You can avoid these problems by replacing the missing teeth with a dental bridge.

Preparing for a Dental Bridge

The process of getting a dental bridge varies depending on whether you are getting a fixed or implant-supported dental bridge.

The process for placement of a fixed dental bridge is as follows:

• Preparing the supporting natural teeth for placement of the dental bridge – This involves shaving and drilling the teeth to reduce their size and shape so a dental crown can be placed.
• Taking digital impressions, X-rays and other images – The information gathered is sent to a dental laboratory to create a dental bridge designed to meet your needs.
• Placement of a temporary bridge – A temporary bridge protects the area and surrounding teeth until your permanent bridge has been created by the laboratory.
• Cementing the bridge in place – A dental cement is used to hold the bridge in place.

The process for placement of an implant-supported bridge is as follows:

• Dental implants are surgically placed into the jaw bone.
• Waiting several months for the dental implants to properly heal – A temporary bridge may be placed over the area to protect as you go through the healing process.
• Digital impressions and images are taken to provide the laboratory with the information they need to create your custom-made bridge.
• Attachment of the restoration to the dental implants.

Contact Us To Learn More About Dental Bridges

If you are interested in seeing if you are a good candidate for a dental bridge, we encourage you to contact our Poolesville or Rockville office to schedule an appointment for a consultation. We can help you determine if a dental bridge is the right treatment option for you.

Please let us know if you are specifically interested in learning more about implant-supported bridges.
We will make sure you are scheduled for a consultation with Dr. D. Timothy Pike, who is experienced with implant dentistry.