Are you ready to build bridges to better oral health? Hills Dental is happy to give you the lowdown on dental bridges—including what they are and what the process looks like before, during, and after treatment!

First off, you should know that dental bridges are a great way to replace missing teeth. Your existing teeth are used to literally create a bridge to cross the area where any teeth are missing. Bridges are made from gold, metal, alloys, or porcelain to ensure that they are strong and durable.

The process of creating a bridge begins by creating abutments out of your existing teeth where the bridge will be attached. The existing teeth are recontoured to provide a base for the bridge. After the abutments have been created, a mold is taken of the area which is sent to a dental lab. The lab is able to use the mold to create a bridge that will fit properly and feel as close to your natural teeth as possible. The bridge consists of two crowns on either end to place on the abutments and a pontic, which is the new tooth that replaces your missing tooth.

At Hills Dental, we will fit you with a temporary bridge while we wait for the lab to craft your permanent bridge. This will protect the abutments and the exposed gum areas and look more appealing than showing off a missing tooth. When the final bridge has been created, you will have a follow-up visit to set the bridge. It will be placed on the abutments and the dentist will then use an adhesive to make sure that the bridge is set.

The bridge may take a little while to get used to, but after a few days it should feel like you have your own teeth back again. You should eat soft foods for the first few days after having your bridge placed. And after the initial phase, you will be able to eat whatever you want with no issues.

If you’re missing a tooth, you should strongly consider having it replaced. Besides the aesthetic disadvantage of missing a tooth, tooth loss can also cause structural changes to your mouth and jaw, as well as make it difficult to eat or speak properly.

When it comes to tooth loss, don’t go it alone! Set up an appointment with Hills Dental today, and we’ll bridge the gap between your present and future smile.