At Rebol Family Dentistry, we are happy to help our patients who have suffered from tooth loss restore their smiles using our tooth replacement options. One of our tooth replacement options is a dental bridge. Dental bridges cosmetically replace one or more missing teeth while also improving the functionality of your smile following tooth loss.
Missing teeth can have a detrimental impact on the overall health of your dental structures, increasing your risk for developing chronic jaw pain or TMJ disorders over time. This is why we recommend our patients pursue tooth replacement options for their missing teeth sooner rather than later. Learn more about dental bridges below.
Dental Bridges in Asheville, NC
Dr. Rebol and Dr. Sparks are your experienced restorative dentists in Asheville, NC. Together, they provide comprehensive and compassionate care to patients who have experienced tooth loss. Dental bridges are an affordable and efficient method of tooth replacement. Supported by your surrounding teeth, the bridge hardware holds a prosthetic tooth in place of your missing tooth.
Patients enjoy dental bridges because they can often be accomplished within just two appointments. Additionally, they do not require a surgical procedure as dental implants do. With dental bridges, patients can achieve a smile restoration while also remaining budget-conscious.
Dental bridges can be used to effectively restore your smile following tooth loss. However, there are several recommended lifestyle alterations that patients need to be aware of with this option. Because the bridge hardware is exposed, you will need to avoid eating excessively crunchy or chewy foods.
This is because foods that are difficult to chew may damage the exposed hardware over time and significantly decrease the longevity of your restoration. Additionally, patients will need to learn how to brush and floss around and underneath the dental bridge to ensure they do not risk tooth decay or gum disease progression caused by food residue caught in the bridge hardware.
Removable Dental Bridges
A removable bridge is a classic option for dental bridges. Dental crowns go over the anchor teeth on either side of the bridge. They support the bridge and minimize the amount of stress on your actual teeth. A removable bridge completes your smile but doesn’t give you back full functionality. You should avoid things like biting into an apple if you have a removable bridge.
This type of bridge also requires extra maintenance. You have to take out the bridge to clean it properly. You should avoid sleeping in a removable bridge, too. A removable bridge irritates your gums and soft tissue when it’s worn for long periods of time. Typically, we suggest removable bridges as temporary solutions while patients are waiting for a permanent restoration.
Fixed Dental Bridges
A fixed dental bridge is a permanent solution for your missing teeth. Typically, dental implants support fixed bridges at both ends. Using dental implants allows them to take on the brunt of the stress of supporting a bridge, with no cost to your natural teeth. Dental implants have the added benefit of stopping bone deterioration so that you don’t need to replace or readjust your dental bridge in the future.
Removable bridges are cheaper and the process is quicker than a fixed bridge. However, fixed bridges last for life. You get back 100% of your bite function and can eat a full, varied diet. We recommend implant-supported bridges whenever a patient is eligible.
Schedule An Appointment
If you are interested in learning more about your tooth replacement options including dental bridges, please schedule an appointment with our Asheville, NC dentists. We look forward to helping you restore your smile.