Dental Bridges Charlotte NC

A traditional dental bridge is supported by the teeth next to the gap, while a dental implant replaces the missing tooth from the root up and does not require those neighboring teeth to be crowned. A partial denture is removable and uses the remaining teeth for support.

Each option has its own advantages. A bridge can often be completed more quickly than implant treatment because there is no healing period for an implant to integrate with the jawbone. An implant preserves the neighboring teeth and also helps maintain bone in the area of the missing tooth. A partial denture can replace several missing teeth in different areas without preparing adjacent teeth for crowns.

The best choice depends on the condition of the surrounding teeth, the amount of available bone, the number and location of missing teeth, and whether you prefer a fixed or removable restoration. Dr. Cerasaro will consider these factors with you and recommend the option that best fits your oral health and long-term needs.

With proper care, a dental bridge can function comfortably for many years. Dr. Cerasaro recommends brushing carefully along the gumline twice a day and cleaning beneath the replacement tooth each day with a floss threader, interdental cleaner, or water flosser. Keeping this area clean helps protect the gums and the natural teeth that support the bridge.

Many well-maintained dental bridges last 10 to 15 years or longer. Longevity depends on the health of the supporting teeth, the length of the bridge, your bite, and whether you clench or grind your teeth. If you grind your teeth at night, Dr. Cerasaro may recommend a custom night guard to help protect both the bridge and your natural teeth.

If your bridge ever feels loose, your bite feels uneven, the gum beneath it remains sore, or floss begins catching around an edge, contact Crown Point Family Dentistry. Dr. Cerasaro can evaluate the bridge and the supporting teeth to determine whether a simple adjustment or repair is needed before a small problem becomes more difficult to treat.

With a traditional dental bridge, the teeth on either side of the gap are typically prepared for crowns. These teeth, called abutment teeth, support the replacement tooth or teeth between them. If the neighboring teeth already need crowns because of large fillings, damage, or other concerns, a traditional bridge may provide both restoration and support for the missing tooth.

When the adjacent teeth are healthy and have never been restored, Dr. Cerasaro may discuss alternatives that preserve more of their natural tooth structure. A dental implant, for example, replaces the missing tooth without requiring crowns on the neighboring teeth.

A Maryland bridge is another more conservative option in certain situations. Instead of full crowns, it uses small wings bonded to the backs of the adjacent teeth. Because this type of bridge works best under specific conditions, Dr. Cerasaro will consider the location of the missing tooth, your bite, and the health of the surrounding teeth when recommending the best approach.

A straightforward tooth-supported bridge is usually two or three visits over two to three weeks: planning, preparation and temporary, then delivery. Extra time is added when an abutment needs a core or endodontic treatment, when the gums need to heal first, or when the span is implant-supported and the implants must integrate.

No. Because the pontic sits on the gum, it does not replace the root, so the bone under that site still remodels. That is acceptable for many patients, but it is the reason an implant is preferred when preserving that bone matters for a later plan or for the shape of the ridge.

We rarely treat growing patients with a permanent adult bridge. A space maintainer or a pediatric restoration is used until the bite and the adjacent teeth have finished changing.