Dental Bridges in San Antonio
A dental bridge is a treatment for replacing a missing tooth or multiple missing teeth. It is a requirement that the tooth (or teeth) being replaced have at least one tooth behind it and one tooth on either side of it.
Let’s say, for instance, that a patient is going to lose their first molar and decides to have a bridge made to replace the tooth. Typically, the tooth is extracted and given time to heal. Once the site has healed sufficiently, we prepare the tooth in front of the missing space and behind the missing space as they would be for a dental crown. These teeth are considered the “abutments” of the bridge.
Dental Bridge Process and Materials
Dental Bridge or Dental Implant?
When a Dental Bridge is the Better Choice
- The patient is not a candidate for surgery. If medical reasons prevent a patient from having implant surgery but they still want to replace a missing tooth with a fixed restoration, a bridge can be an excellent choice.
- The space where an implant could/would go would require multiple surgeries that the patient is unwilling to have. In cases where a tooth has been missing for a long time, the bone and tissue may no longer have what it takes to support an implant without one or two preliminary surgeries. Some patients are hesitant to go through all of this and prefer the bridge for simplicity’s sake.
- The adjacent teeth need crowns. Sometimes it seems justifiable to make a bridge for a patient when the teeth on either side of the missing tooth need crowns, anyway. Whether a bridge is a good choice in a case like this depends on why the patient needs the crowns in the first place. Does the patient get cavities easily? Do they have trouble keeping their teeth clean? A bridge may or may not be a good choice for the patient. If the risk of cavities is high, an implant might still be a better option, but the patient might still prefer a bridge for the sake of short-term simplicity.
Let Us Help You Decide if a Dental Bridge is Right for You
We Strive to Make Your Experience a Pleasant One and Offer a Free, No-obligation Consultation!
Your experience at Rolling Oaks is designed to be effortless and painless from the moment you walk into our clinic until the moment you leave. We are pleased to be able to offer digital dentistry in order to make your visit more pleasant. Our team is friendly, welcoming, and ready to help you make the best of your appointment! Contact us today to schedule your Free, No-obligation Consultation!
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