Fill Gaps Caused By Multiple Missing Teeth
Improving both the appearance and functionality of your mouth, a dental bridge offers a dependable option for replacing missing teeth by filling the empty spaces with a fabricated tooth supported by dental implants, your natural teeth, or a combination of both. Commonly known as a “fixed partial denture,” these bridges are securely attached to your teeth using bonding or cement, making them a permanent solution that doesn’t require removal for sleeping or upkeep. Addressing gaps in your teeth is vital, not only for enhancing your smile but also for maintaining long-term oral health. Missing teeth can create challenges with speaking and chewing, while gaps can allow adjacent teeth to shift, leading to potential misalignment.
Enduring Advantages of Dental Bridges
The loss of one or more teeth can lead to feelings of discomfort and a lack of confidence. Choosing a dental bridge allows you to restore a natural-looking and functional smile while enjoying lasting benefits that support your remaining teeth and promote the health of your jawbone. Let’s delve into the key advantages offered by dental bridges.
Ease and Comfort
The benefits of dental bridges are immediate and transformative, providing a return to normalcy in both appearance and daily function. With a dental bridge, you can smile and eat confidently, embracing the smile you value and cherish. Gaps caused by missing teeth often result in discomfort and may make speaking or eating challenging. Dental bridges deliver a dependable solution, easing these issues and providing relief from discomfort for over a decade with proper care.
Tooth Health
The harmony of your teeth plays a crucial role in maintaining your bite and facial structure. Missing teeth disrupt this balance, creating gaps where neighbouring teeth may drift. Dental bridges serve as an effective measure to stabilise your teeth, reducing the risk of decay, gum disease, jaw pain, and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) issues caused by misalignment.
Overall Bone Health
Strong, stable teeth are essential for maintaining the integrity of your jawbone. When dental health declines, it can affect the supporting bone and tissues. By reinforcing stability with a dental bridge, you can slow the bone loss associated with missing teeth, helping to preserve the health of your jaw over time.
The Cost Of A Dental Bridge in Wellesley
The price of a dental bridge can differ widely based on a variety of factors. For those with dental insurance, the average cost typically falls between $800 to $1200 or more. Without insurance, the cost of a bridge generally ranges from $2000 to $3000 or higher, depending on the specifics of the treatment.
Several important elements influence the overall cost of a dental bridge:
- Type of Bridge and Material: The cost will vary depending on the type of bridge, such as traditional or implant-supported, and the materials used during its construction.
- Number of Missing Teeth: Replacing multiple teeth increases the complexity of the treatment and the materials needed, which directly affects the price.
- Location and Complexity of the Procedure: The position of the missing teeth and the difficulty of placing the bridge can impact the cost. If the procedure involves harder-to-access areas or preparatory work, the overall expense may rise.
- Condition of Adjacent Teeth: The state of the teeth next to the gap is also a determining factor. If these teeth require restoration or other treatments, it can add to the total cost.
- Supplies and Equipment: Any specialized tools, materials, or additional components, like dental implants, can contribute to the final price of treatment.
It’s essential to understand that an accurate cost estimate cannot be provided over the phone since every case is unique. A detailed consultation and oral examination with a dentist are necessary to determine the most suitable treatment options and their costs.
If you have dental insurance, the clinic can offer a detailed quote for submission to your insurance provider. This allows you to understand your out-of-pocket expenses before proceeding with dental bridge treatment.
Contact us today
to schedule an initial consultation & exam.
Your consultation will include an examination of everything from your teeth, gums and soft tissues to the shape and condition of your bite. Generally, we want to see how your whole mouth looks and functions. Before we plan your treatment we want to know everything about the health and aesthetic of your smile, and, most importantly, what you want to achieve so we can help you get there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Dental bridges come in various forms, including permanent and semi-permanent options. Semi-permanent bridges, also known as fixed partial dentures, are bonded to natural teeth or implants for stability. Unlike dentures, which are removable, bridges remain securely in place and consist solely of teeth, without the pink gum portion found in dentures.
Cantilever bridges are designed for situations where there are no supporting teeth on both sides of a gap. Despite their availability, these bridges are less commonly used today, especially in the back of the mouth, due to concerns about the excessive pressure they may place on surrounding teeth, potentially causing damage. If you have missing teeth in the posterior region, alternative options are available to suit your needs.
Dental bridges can be crafted from a range of materials, including gold alloys, non-precious alloys, porcelain, or a combination of these. In our practice, porcelain is the preferred material due to its natural appearance and durability.
While dental crowns and bridges are sometimes confused, they serve distinct purposes. A dental crown is a prosthetic cap placed over a damaged or weakened tooth to provide strength and protection. A dental bridge, on the other hand, is designed to replace one or more missing teeth by bridging the gap with artificial teeth supported by adjacent teeth or implants.
A dental crown alone cannot fill the space left by a missing tooth. Crowns are designed to cover and restore damaged teeth or fit over a partial tooth with a post or a dental implant. For a gap, additional support such as an implant or neighbouring teeth is necessary to complete the restoration.
Yes, zirconia is one of the materials available for dental bridge construction. If you’d like to learn more about the material options and determine which is best suited to your needs, we’re happy to provide detailed recommendations and guidance.