Dental Bridges in Oakland, CA

If you have lost teeth in Oakland, CA, either due to decay or oral injury, you’re probably looking for a method to replace them. Dental bridges are one effective way of restoring missing teeth if you still have the rest of your natural teeth and have been able to keep them healthy. Franklin Dental Care provides quality dental bridges to restore smiles in Oakland.

What is a dental bridge?

A dental bridge is a prosthetic used to replace missing teeth. Unlike dentures, which are worn on the gums and usually can be removed, dental bridges are fixed to the existing teeth that neighbor the gap in the smile. These neighboring teeth are called the abutment teeth and are fitted with dental crowns that support the actual tooth restoration, called the pontic.

Types of bridges

There are several types of bridges available. The type used for your restoration will depend on the location of the gap in the mouth as well as your preferences.

• Traditional bridge: the most popular type of bridge which is used when the gap in the teeth has natural teeth on either side of it
• Cantilever bridge: works like a traditional bridge, but relies on a tooth or teeth on only one side of the gap
• Maryland bridge: instead of being held in place by crowns placed on the abutment teeth, as traditional and cantilever bridges are, a Maryland bridge is held in place by a metal or porcelain framework that is fixed to the neighboring teeth.
• Implant-supported bridge: the bridge is supported by metal posts inserted into the jawbone

Procedure

A dental bridge requires two appointments to Franklin Dental Care to be placed, one to prepare the teeth and one to fix the bridge to the abutment teeth. For a traditional bridge, the teeth will need to be prepared to receive dental crowns. This will require them to be shaved down a small portion. An impression will then be taken of the prepared teeth and the gap. A dental laboratory will use the impression to create the bridge, which will take a few weeks. Your dentist may place a temporary bridge to keep the area protected until you return to our office in Oakland, CA, to have the permanent bridge bonded to the teeth.