Dental Bridges – Stephens City, VA
A Customized Solution for Multiple Missing Teeth
Do you have a gap in your smile left by one or more missing teeth in a row? Dr. Gromling and our team can help you rebuild not just the appearance of your smile, but also dramatically improve its function with a custom-crafted dental bridge in Stephens City. To learn whether this restorative dental treatment is the right choice for you, call our office to schedule a consultation. We will discuss all of your tooth replacement options with you to help you find the best one for your budget and overall goals.
Why Choose Thomas A. Gromling, DDS for Dental Bridges?
- Locally Owned & Operated Dental Practice
- Putty-Free & Precise Digital Impressions
- Dentist with 40+ Years of Experience
What is a Dental Bridge?
Dental bridges are restorations that are custom-crafted by dental laboratories that our practice works with. They’re comprised of anchoring dental crowns that are attached to your existing natural teeth on either side of the gap in your smile, and free-standing replacement teeth called pontics. Once in place, bridges do just what they promise—bridge the gap between your natural teeth so you can enjoy a full arch again.
Types of Dental Bridges
Depending on a few factors, such as the results you desire and your jawbone density, you may be a candidate for both traditional and implant bridges. Dr. Gromling can discuss the differences between the two with you in-detail at your consultation, but you can also get a general idea of that by reading below.
Traditional Dental Bridge
Traditional dental bridges are designed to be held in place by your existing teeth. This means that the two teeth on either side of the space in your smile will need to be altered in order to accommodate the abutment crowns. Then, the crowns are cemented to the prepared teeth to support the restoration.
Implant Bridge
If you’re looking for a solution that doesn’t involve altering your natural, healthy teeth, an implant bridge may be the best option. This treatment replaces two or more missing teeth. (If you just need to restore one tooth, an implant crown may be recommended.) Two dental implants will be inserted at either edge of the gap in your smile. After they’ve fused with your jawbone through a natural process called osseointegration, they will be used to support your dental bridge.
This leading-edge solution replaces both the roots and crowns of your teeth to provide you with superior stability, aesthetics, and functionality.
The Benefits of Getting a Dental Bridge
Regardless of whether you opt to receive a traditional or implant dental bridge, you’ll receive a variety of benefits that can improve your confidence, oral health, and overall quality of life, including:
- Custom-crafted to look completely natural
- Can last for an average of seven to 10 years with good oral hygiene and maintenance
- Filling gaps in your smile helps prevent surrounding teeth from drifting to fill the space
- Improved oral health
- Maintain a balanced bite and avoid consequential problems such as TMJ disorder
- Results that are easy to maintain and care for
To learn more about dental bridges and what the process will look like, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our friendly staff. Our goal is to help you feel great about your smile!
Dental Bridges FAQs
Does It Hurt to Get a Dental Bridge?
The process of getting a dental bridge in Stephen City does involve a few steps that require numbing your mouth to maintain your comfort. Whether you receive dental implants or use your natural teeth as the anchors, we will make sure you don’t feel pain during the procedures; however, once the anesthetic wears off, you may feel sensitivity or soreness for a while. It should subside and allow you to resume your normal routine without discomfort.
What Are Dental Bridges Made of?
Our dental bridges are mainly composed of either acrylic or porcelain. These materials are known for their durability and realistic appearance. In fact, porcelain reflects light like enamel, and acrylic can be shaded to match the rest of your teeth, drawing very little attention to your prosthetic. Based on your needs, we can determine which material would best serve you and your smile.
Can Dental Bridges Be Removed?
The only person who can take out your dental bridge is Dr. Gromling, and he will likely do this only when your bridge eventually needs to be replaced. Dental bridges are considered permanent because your natural teeth will be irreversibly changed to prepare for this prosthetic. In other words, you don’t want your dental bridge to come out easily! So, you can have peace of mind that as long as you maintain your bridge and keep it in good condition, you shouldn’t have this experience.
How Should I Care for My Dental Bridge?
Although a bridge is a special kind of tooth replacement, maintenance is quite simple! Your bridge requires the same care as your real teeth, meaning you need to brush and floss daily and continue visiting Dr. Gromling for your cleaning and examinations. Your bridge should be able to withstand anything your natural teeth can. Biting on excessively hard things like pencils or hard candy, grinding your teeth, smoking, and eating too much sugar can put your bridge at risk of early failure.
How Many Teeth Can I Replace with a Dental Bridge?
A traditional bridge has the capacity to replace one or two missing teeth in a row if you have at least one tooth on each side of the gap, and an implant bridge can fill in for up to four consecutive lost teeth. The anchors are strong enough to cross larger gaps as well as smaller ones to give you a full smile again.