A traditional dental bridge is the most popular type of bridge, and it’s used when you still have natural teeth in place on either side of the gap created by a missing tooth. It consists of a false tooth which is held in place by a dental crown, and the crown is cemented into place between each of the abutment teeth.
Rather than using crowns or some kind of framework, an implant-supported dental bridge uses a dental implant to secure the bridge. It will be necessary to install one implant for each missing tooth, and the implant holds the bridge in position.
Dental bridges help to restore your smile, and will improve your speaking and chewing so you’ll feel more comfortable and more self-confident. They also go a long way toward maintaining the natural shape of your face, and they will prevent teeth from shifting in your mouth. Anytime you have a missing tooth, the surrounding teeth have a tendency to lean toward that opening, because there’s no support there.
One of the procedures necessary to prepare for getting a dental bridge is to re-contour some teeth by removing a small amount of enamel. This allows the crown to be placed over those teeth, and to fit snugly in place. Then impressions of the mouth and teeth are made, and these will serve as the model for any dental appliance which later gets installed in your mouth. Once a laboratory has prepared your crown(s), they will be installed and fitted for comfort and functionality.
Traditional dental bridges will generally cost somewhere between $2,000 and $5,000 for one pontic and one crown for the abutment teeth. However, a number of factors can influence the total cost. The material used can have an impact, as can the degree of difficulty in installing the bridge. If any additional treatments are required, e.g. for gum disease, that will cause the cost to be on the higher end of the spectrum.
If you’re thinking of having a dental bridge installed, please contact us at Ammons Dental by Design. We’ll be glad to schedule an initial consultation for you, and we can discuss all the issues relevant to the procedure, so you’ll have a better idea of what to expect.
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