Dental Bridges

Your new bridge is customized to the exact specifications of your smile. Before cementing to the underlying teeth or affixing it to the supporting implants, the shade, occlusion, and all aspects of its fit get carefully checked. In addition to being designed to blend seamlessly with your smile, it's also made to suit your bite and withstand all manner of oral function. We take great care to make sure your new restoration looks great, fits well, and that your bite feels comfortable.

Replacing missing teeth with a dental bridge is a worthwhile investment in the look, health, and function of your smile. While many dental insurances offer coverage for a dental bridge, and some toward the cost of implants, the benefits and amounts can vary significantly from plan to plan. At the office of Liberty Dental Care PC by Park One Dental, we understand the financial considerations involved in care and do all we can to help patients begin treatment without any additional stress or delay. In addition to doing our best to optimize your dental benefits, we also offer several payment and financing options. Feel free to contact our office if you have any questions on the cost of care, dental insurances, financing plans, or acceptable forms of payment.

Now that your new permanent crown or bridge is in place, it's essential to maintain good oral hygiene. With proper care, your new restorations will last for years to come. Make sure to brush and floss as instructed. We'll show you how to floss under your dental bridge to keep your new smile clean and bright. Remember to make appointments for your routine checkups and professional cleanings.

The standard answer is that with routine dental visits and good home care, a bridge can last ten to fifteen years, and in many cases, much longer.

At the office of Liberty Dental Care PC by Park One Dental, we fabricate your bridge from the highest quality dental materials to achieve the most cosmetically pleasing and lifelike results of care. It's also customized to the exact specifications of your smile and designed for optimal aesthetics, strength, and stability. Once fabricated and cemented into place, you'll feel confident sharing your smile, speaking, and eating your favorite foods.

As your trusted partner in care, we analyze every aspect of your smile to develop a treatment plan that provides aesthetically pleasing, healthy, and long-lasting results of care.

For more information on dental bridges, or any services we provide, give us a call today.

A dental bridge is a fixed prosthetic designed to replace one or more missing teeth by anchoring artificial teeth to adjacent natural teeth or implants. The replacement tooth or teeth, called pontics, fill the gap and restore the continuity of your dental arch. Bridges restore chewing function, improve speech, and reestablish the appearance of a complete smile.

Modern bridges are fabricated from durable materials such as porcelain, porcelain-fused-to-metal, and engineered ceramics like zirconia, which combine strength with a natural appearance. Unlike removable partial dentures, fixed bridges are cemented or attached and do not require daily removal, providing a stable solution for many patients. The choice of material and design depends on the location of the missing tooth, bite forces, and cosmetic goals.

Good candidates for a dental bridge are patients with one or more adjacent healthy teeth or adequate bone for implant placement. Candidates should have healthy gums and be free of active periodontal disease because inflammation undermines the support of any restoration. We assess oral health, bite alignment, and the long-term prognosis of neighboring teeth to determine the best replacement option.

Imaging tools such as digital radiography and 3D CBCT scans help evaluate bone volume and implant feasibility when considering an implant-supported bridge. Patient goals, medical history, and oral hygiene habits are also part of the evaluation so that care decisions are tailored to each individual's needs. When a bridge is not appropriate, we discuss alternatives like partial dentures or dental implants to achieve the desired result.

There are several types of dental bridges, but the most commonly used are traditional fixed bridges and implant-supported bridges. Traditional fixed bridges use crowns on teeth adjacent to the gap to support one or more pontics, while implant-supported bridges are anchored to dental implants that act as artificial tooth roots. Other designs, such as cantilever bridges and Maryland bonded bridges, are used in specific situations but are less common.

The best type for a given patient depends on factors such as the number of missing teeth, the condition of neighboring teeth, and bone availability. A thorough clinical exam and discussion of long-term goals guide the selection of the most predictable and conservative option. When preserving healthy tooth structure is a priority, implant-supported solutions may avoid altering adjacent natural teeth.

Implant-supported bridges differ from traditional fixed bridges primarily in how they derive support; implants replace the tooth root and transfer forces into the jawbone. Because implants do not rely on neighboring teeth for support, they often preserve the integrity of adjacent tooth structure and reduce the need to prepare healthy teeth for crowns. Implant placement also stimulates the jawbone and can help prevent the bone loss that accompanies missing teeth.

Traditional fixed bridges can be an excellent, quicker solution when adjacent teeth already require crowns or when implants are not feasible. However, they depend on the long-term health of abutment teeth and the surrounding bone, which must be strong enough to support the restoration. Clinicians weigh these considerations, along with patient preferences and clinical findings, when recommending the ideal approach.

Receiving a traditional fixed bridge typically involves multiple visits that start with a diagnostic exam, tooth preparation, and impression taking. The abutment teeth are reshaped to accommodate crowns, and a temporary bridge is placed to protect prepared teeth and maintain function while the permanent restoration is fabricated. It is common to experience mild sensitivity and gum soreness after preparation, and these symptoms usually improve as the tissue heals.

When the laboratory-fabricated bridge is ready, the dentist verifies shade, fit, and bite before cementing the final restoration. After placement, minor adjustments may be necessary to refine occlusion and comfort so the bridge functions harmoniously with the rest of the bite. We advise patients to avoid hard or sticky foods during the initial healing period and to contact the office if a temporary restoration becomes dislodged.

Placing an implant-supported bridge begins with a comprehensive surgical plan that often uses 3D imaging to guide precise implant positioning. Surgery is typically performed on an outpatient basis with local anesthesia and, when appropriate, sedation options to ensure patient comfort. Once implants are placed, a period of healing called osseointegration allows the titanium fixtures to fuse securely with the jawbone.

At Liberty Dental Care PC by Park One Dental we take time to explain anesthesia choices, pre-op instructions, and post-op care to make the surgical experience as comfortable and predictable as possible. Temporary prostheses may be provided while implants integrate, and the permanent bridge is delivered after the clinician confirms stable osseointegration and proper fit. Follow-up visits monitor healing and allow adjustments to optimize function and esthetics.

Caring for a dental bridge involves meticulous daily hygiene to remove plaque and prevent decay or gum disease around the supporting teeth or implants. Patients should brush twice daily with a soft-bristled brush and use interdental cleaning aids, such as floss threaders or interdental brushes, to clean beneath pontics and between abutments. Professional cleanings and routine exams are essential to monitor the bridge, the condition of adjacent teeth, and the health of the gums and bone.

For implant-supported bridges, care focuses on preventing peri-implant inflammation through consistent cleaning and periodic professional maintenance. If you have habits such as clenching or grinding, a night guard may be recommended to protect the restoration and natural teeth from excessive forces. Addressing any soreness, mobility, or changes in bite early helps preserve the longevity of the bridge.

The lifespan of a dental bridge depends on material quality, oral hygiene, bite dynamics, and the health of supporting structures. Porcelain, zirconia, and metal-ceramic combinations can all provide durable results when supported by healthy teeth or well-integrated implants. Regular dental care, prompt treatment of gum disease, and protective measures for patients with bruxism all contribute to longer-lasting restorations.

Even well-made bridges may require repair or replacement over time due to wear, changes in the surrounding teeth, or recurrent decay under abutments. Routine checkups allow the dentist to identify potential problems early and recommend conservative interventions to extend the service life of the restoration. When a bridge reaches the end of its useful life, modern restorations can often replace it while preserving as much healthy tooth and bone as possible.

A properly designed and fitted bridge helps prevent the adjacent teeth from drifting into the empty space, which preserves correct tooth alignment and bite relationships. By restoring occlusion and chewing function, bridges also help distribute biting forces evenly across the dental arch, reducing excessive wear on remaining teeth. When dental implants support a bridge, they provide stimulation to the jawbone similar to natural tooth roots, which helps maintain bone volume and facial contours.

Failing to replace missing teeth can lead to progressive bite collapse, shifting teeth, and changes in facial support that affect appearance and function. Early evaluation and timely restoration are important to maintain oral health and prevent more complex problems that might require extensive treatment later. Your dental team can recommend the most appropriate timing and restorative option to protect long-term oral health.

Successful bridge treatment begins with a comprehensive evaluation that includes a clinical exam, digital radiographs, and, when indicated, CBCT imaging to assess bone and anatomical considerations. Our doctors take a conservative, individualized approach to treatment planning, discussing the pros and cons of each restorative option in the context of your oral health and aesthetic goals. We emphasize disease control, proper preparation of abutment teeth, and precise laboratory communication to ensure predictable results.

Liberty Dental Care PC by Park One Dental in Richmond Hill focuses on patient comfort through clear communication, sedation options when needed, and attentive post-operative care. Regular follow-up appointments and preventive maintenance are scheduled to monitor the restoration and address any questions or adjustments promptly. This structured protocol helps patients achieve long-term function and a natural-looking smile.