Bridges
Aspen Dental is honored to be awarded 5280 Magazine' Top Dentist Award from 2016-2024!
Dental Bridges in Denver, CO
All of your teeth play an important role in speaking, chewing, and maintaining the proper alignment of other teeth. Tooth loss doesn’t necessarily have to occur as you age, but if you lose teeth, you must replace them to maintain the proper function of your mouth. Fortunately, we have great options at Aspen Dental for correcting tooth loss. One of those is a dental bridge.
Dental Bridge Options in Denver
A bridge, a device used to replace missing teeth, attaches artificial teeth to adjacent natural teeth, called abutment teeth. There are different bridge types, including removable bridges called fixed partial dentures. Fixed bridges are permanent, non-removable bridges. Both types fill the gap where teeth are absent.
What Exactly is a Bridge or Fixed Partial Denture?
We apply fixed bridges either by cementing them over natural teeth on either side of the missing tooth gap or by bonding the artificial teeth directly to the abutment teeth. Fixed bridges can only be removed by a dental professional. Fixed bridges offer more stability than their removable counterparts. Removable bridges are attached to the teeth with metal clasps or precision attachments. As the name implies, removable bridges can be taken out and cleaned.
Why Do I Need a Bridge?
Oral functionality and appearance are important reasons for wearing a bridge. A bridge helps support your lips and cheeks. Without a bridge, the loss of a back tooth may cause your mouth to sink and your face to look older.
Dental health is another important reason for a bridge. Teeth were designed to complement each other. Unusual stresses are placed on the gums and other oral tissues when teeth are missing, causing some potentially harmful disorders.
Increased risk of gum disease has proven to be one of the worst side effects of missing teeth and can be minimized with a bridge. Missing teeth can also cause speech disorders as their placement contributes to many of the sounds we use to speak clearly.
How is a Bridge Attached?
The attachment procedure usually takes two or three appointments. At the first appointment, Dr. Rossow, Dr. Noce, or Dr. Neal will prepare the teeth on either side of the gap by removing a portion of the enamel and dentin.
Since the bridge must be fabricated precisely to ensure correct bite and match the opposing tooth, impressions of the teeth are taken and sent to a lab where the bridge will be constructed. We typically cement fixed bridges to the natural teeth next to the space left by the missing tooth.
If we’re applying a fixed or removable bridge, we’ll have you come in to try the bridge once it is ready. It may take some time to get used to feeling a new bridge in your mouth. But if something doesn’t feel right, we can adjust the bridge.
What Materials Do We Use to Construct a Bridge?
We can construct bridges from gold alloys, non-precious alloys, porcelain, or a combination of these materials. We often bond it to either precious or non-precious metal if we use porcelain.
How Do I Take Care of My Bridge?
With a bridge, you should brush and floss your teeth daily as usual. The bridge relies on natural, supporting teeth, so it’s essential to keep those teeth healthy.
The Best Dental Bridge Service in Denver
Missing teeth can and should be replaced. If you’re missing one or more teeth, you may be aware of their importance to your appearance and dental health. Your teeth work together for many daily functions, from eating to speaking. With missing teeth, it isn’t easy to do these things. Fixed or removable bridges are a great way to restore your dental health and appearance.
Call our office today to schedule an appointment for dental bridges in Denver, Colorado.
Why do I need a bridge?
Oral functionality and appearance are important reasons for wearing a bridge. A bridge helps support your lips and cheeks. The loss of a back tooth may cause your mouth to sink and your face to look older.
Dental health is the most important reason for a bridge. Teeth were designed to complement each other. Unusual stresses are placed on the gums and other oral tissues when teeth are missing, causing a number of potentially harmful disorders.
Increased risk of gum disease has proven to be one of the worst side effects of missing teeth and can be minimized with a bridge.
Missing teeth can cause speech disorders as they are used to make many of the sounds we use to speak clearly.
How is a bridge attached?
The attachment procedure usually takes two or three appointments to complete. At the first appointment Dr. Rossow, Dr. Neal, and Dr. Noce will prepare the teeth on either side of the gap by removing a portion of the enamel and dentin.
Since the bridge must be fabricated very precisely to ensure the correct bite and to match the opposing tooth, impressions of the teeth are taken and sent to a lab where the bridge will be constructed.
Fixed bridges are typically cemented to the natural teeth next to the space left by the missing tooth. A pontic (false tooth) replaces the lost tooth. Crowns, which are cemented onto the natural teeth, provide support for the bridge.
What materials are used?
Bridges can be constructed from gold alloys, non-precious alloys, porcelain, or a combination of these materials. Porcelain is often bonded to either precious or non-precious metal.
How do I take care of my bridge?
A strict regimen of brushing and flossing will keep the bridge and surrounding teeth clean. This is of critical importance as the bridge relies on the neighboring teeth for support.