Missing teeth can profoundly disrupt daily life, impacting both culinary experiences and personal confidence in social interactions. At Draper Family & Cosmetic Dentistry, we understand the importance of a complete, healthy smile. Therefore, we provide dental bridges in Albemarle, NC, a reliable and effective solution to replace missing teeth, helping improve both function and aesthetics.
Our experienced dentist, Dr. Draper, and her team specialize in creating custom dental bridges that look natural and feel comfortable, ensuring you can smile, eat, and speak with renewed confidence.
What is a Dental Bridge?
A dental bridge replaces one or more missing teeth using custom-crafted restorations that blend naturally with your existing smile. These dental appliances have two main components: abutments (supporting structures attached to natural teeth or implant posts) and pontics (artificial teeth that occupy the space).
By seamlessly bridging the space left by missing teeth, this dental restoration maintains proper dental alignment, prevents surrounding teeth from shifting, and restores your ability to chew and speak normally. Dental bridges are made to achieve these elements, based on individual needs and the selected dental bridge type.
Benefits of Choosing a Dental Bridge in Albemarle
A dental bridge offers the following benefits:
- It restores your oral functionality, helping you chew and speak properly.
- Bridges fill empty spaces, keeping nearby teeth from shifting and helping maintain a steady bite and proper alignment.
- It’s a cost-effective solution for tooth replacement.
- Bridges offer a natural solution for missing teeth.
- They enhance aesthetic appeal and boost confidence.
Types of Dental Bridges We Offer
Here are the 4 types of dental bridges offered by our dentist in Albemarle, Dr. Draper:
Traditional Dental Bridges
The traditional bridge design remains most popular, using dental crown fixtures on adjacent teeth to secure the artificial tooth/teeth. This approach is ideal when neighboring teeth have sufficient strength and good oral health.
Cantilever Dental Bridges
This bridge connects to only one adjacent tooth, making it a good choice for patients intending to replace one missing tooth.
This solution also performs optimally for gaps requiring dental restoration where just a single adjacent tooth exists to provide necessary support. A single crown secures the pontic, making this bridge ideal for smaller spaces with minimal support available.
Maryland Bonded Bridges
As an alternative approach, resin-bonded bridges utilize small porcelain or metal projections that attach to the backside of adjacent teeth, providing support and dental stability.
This conservative option helps preserve more of your natural teeth. It is typically used for front teeth, where the biting force is lighter.
Implant-Supported Bridges
Implant-supported bridges use dental implants instead of natural teeth as anchors. Functioning as artificial tooth roots, implants integrate directly with jawbone tissue through a natural bonding process.
The recovery period typically spans between three and six months, after which bridge placement can proceed. Dentists often recommend this approach when several teeth in a row are missing from the same area.
Dental Bridge Procedure
Getting a bridge usually takes two visits. On the first visit, our dentist in Albemarle checks your bite, shapes the nearby teeth, and takes digital impressions to send to a dental lab. A temporary bridge is placed to protect your smile during this period.
During your subsequent visit, Dr. Draper will remove the temporary bridge and install the permanent custom restoration. She will adjust it so it fits well, feels comfortable, and looks natural.
Are You a Candidate for a Dental Bridge?
Dental bridges work well for people who are missing a tooth or two, but still have strong teeth on either side of the space. Healthy gums and a commitment to proper oral hygiene are also important. If a patient has gum disease, tooth decay, or bone loss, other treatments may be more appropriate.
Dental Bridges in Albemarle, NC
Ready to regain your smile and self-confidence? Schedule an appointment with our experts at Draper Family & Cosmetic Dentistry for custom dental bridge solutions in Albemarle that meet your specific requirements. Start your journey to a full, natural-looking smile. Your personalized restorative dentistry plan begins right here with us!
