Dental Bridges in Bellevue, WA
Completing Your Smile While Protecting Your Dental Health
Not Just a Cosmetic Solution: Why?
Even just one missing tooth can have a serious impact on your dental health. That is because teeth need each other to stay in proper position. So when a tooth is lost, the opposing and neighboring teeth will begin to shift out of position causing unwanted dental issues. The shift could potentially lead to: a misaligned bite, problems with the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), and an increased risk of losing additional teeth.
A Tradition to Smile About
A traditional bridge is made by creating a crown for the teeth on either side of the space and placing a false tooth (or teeth) between the crowns. The crowns, sometimes called caps, can be supported by natural teeth or implants. The false tooth or teeth are attached to the crowns and fill in the empty space.
The Restoration of Choice
Generally, bridges are made of porcelain fused to a gold substructure. Bridges may be the restoration of choice when the teeth adjacent to the missing tooth have pre-existing fillings. Alternatively, if the adjacent teeth are filling free, an implant supported crown might be a better option.
Schedule an appointment with Dr. Bell today to see which method he recommends for you!
Before & After: Dental Bridges
Before
This patient lost a tooth due to an infection. Note an old, existing crown on the molar and a failing silver colored filling on the bicuspid, making this patient a good candidate for a bridge.
After
The porcelain bridge covers the old, existing crown and amalgam filling and fills in the gap, restoring the strength and function of the bite.
Before
The tooth adjacent to the space has a large, leaking silver filling and on the other side the natural tooth is rotated.
After
Placing a porcelain bridge restores the shape, strength and function of the bite
