Dental Bridges: A time tested tooth replacement solution in Laguna Niguel, CA

Why is it so important to replace missing teeth? Gaps do more than spoil your smile. They allow other teeth to go crooked, increasing risk of tooth decay and gum disease. Missing teeth also have a negative impact on bite, diet, and speech. For many years, dental bridges have been used to correct the problem. At OC Smile Solutions in Laguna Nigel, CA, Dr. Sean Thompson brings modern materials and techniques into the process to improve smiles from Aliso Viejo to Dana Point, Mission Viejo, and San Juan Capistrano.

What is a bridge?

As you might guess from the name, this dental prosthetic bridges the space between remaining teeth. It consists of an artificial tooth or several in succession, with crowns at each end. Crowns are cemented to prepared teeth or dental implants to stabilize the unit.

Though sometimes called a “removable dental bridge,” a partial denture cannot provide the security and comfort of a fixed bridge.

Dental bridges – a precise process in Laguna Niguel, CA

For a traditional bridge, at least two appointments are necessary:

  • At the first, the treatment area is numbed, and anchor teeth are prepared by reducing and shaping tooth structure to hold crowns.
  • Dr. Thompson takes impressions of your mouth. He uses this information to design the bridge and plan how it will be affixed.
  • Instructions go to a dental laboratory where the bridge is fabricated, usually of porcelain and metal.
  • Meanwhile, anchor teeth are protected with temporary restorations.
  • You return in several weeks to have the interim crowns removed, and the bridge cemented in place.
  • In some cases, Dr. Thompson can make an all-ceramic bridge on site using CEREC technology, eliminating need for a second appointment.
  • A zirconia implant bridge may be recommended for upper or lower bridge teeth. Just a few dental implants are placed to hold a full arch of teeth securely.

Replacing missing teeth can improve your dental health and give you more confidence in your smile. Dental implants are the “gold standard” for individual tooth replacement. However, bridges still make good sense for many patients who are not implant candidates or who want to avoid an oral surgery procedure.

Call OC Smile Solutions at (949) 558-0111 to learn about financing options for affordable dental bridge work.

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