Beautifully and durably spanning the gaps in your smile
Just like the Tower Bridge spans the Sacramento River, dental bridges at Sac Dentist bridge the gap left behind after a tooth is removed or falls out due to disease or trauma. Our dentist, Dr. Steven Phan, is proud to serve greater Carmichael, Fair Oaks, and Roseville, California area with only the highest-quality porcelain dental bridges.
So, a bridge is used to replace a tooth?
Yes. The dental bridge may be appropriate for replacing just one tooth or several teeth (and as many as three teeth).
How do dental bridges “work”?
Let’s say you need to replace one tooth. No problem! We start by slightly “shaping” the neighboring teeth on either side of your gap. We then take a digital impression of these anchoring teeth. This impression and any other details about the bridge will be collected and transferred to our dental lab partners. Once the lab has made your bridge, it will be fixed or secured to the neighboring teeth. Specifically, the crowns comprising the bridge slip right over these anchoring teeth. After they are cemented, the replacement tooth or “pontic” connected to these anchoring crowns fills the gap. The space between these teeth is eliminated! You can now smile proudly, and your healthy chewing and speech function is restored.
Why do you need to reduce the neighboring teeth and place crowns?
The neighboring teeth serve as anchors or abutments to hold the bridge/pontic in place. To adequately support the bridge, these anchors must be crowned. Any time we apply a crown, a portion of the tooth must be shaped so that the crown fits on top of the tooth properly.
What if I need to replace more than one tooth?
We make more than one pontic! While these bridges can replace up to three teeth, most of the time, no more than a few pontics or replacement teeth are used in these appliances. You don’t want to have too many replacement teeth in the bridge, as that can affect the long-term sustainability of all involved teeth—including your natural anchoring teeth supporting your bridge.
What if I don’t have neighboring teeth on both sides of the gap?
Bridges can be designed in various ways. Some systems even use special attachments or frameworks to hold the bridge in place, which permits the appliance to have only one anchoring tooth in certain circumstances. Dr. Phan is also happy to discuss alternatives with you, which may include crowns and bridges stabilized by dental implants secured in the jawbone or by partial dentures.
Why do you use porcelain?
Porcelain is a great way to achieve a natural and lifelike appearance. This ceramic material is known to look like natural enamel due to how it reflects light. These tiny details add up and can make a big difference in the overall aesthetics of your smile. Sometimes, we use a metal core wrapped in a porcelain shell so you get the best of both worlds—utmost strength and beauty.Â
If gaps in your smile have gotten you down and are affecting everything from how you chew food to how you feel about your look, contact your neighbors in Sacramento, CA, today to schedule a visit. Sac Dentist serves greater Carmichael, Fair Oaks, Roseville, and the surrounding area. It can be reached at (916) 999-7830.
A bridge is a non-surgical way to replace one or many teeth. A bridge uses the adjacent teeth as anchors to support the missing tooth or teeth. With today’s dental advancements, a bridge can be fabricated in a fairly short period of time, using a metal or nonmetal foundation. Don’t let that missing tooth affect the way you speak, eat, and smile. Bridges yield immediate results that last a lifetime. Ask your dentist what type of bridge may be right for you.
