At Anthony Martin Dentistry, located in Yorktown, VA, we offer dental bridges as an effective and affordable treatment option for patients missing a tooth or teeth. Tooth loss affects over 120 million Americans and dental bridges offer a fast and easy way to fill spaces created by missing teeth. A missing tooth doesn’t only affect the appearance of your smile, but it can also cause a variety of other problems.

• Change in bite
• Shifting of the teeth
• Bone loss
• Temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ)
• Speech impediments
• Increased risk of periodontal disease
• Increased risk of tooth decay

Dental bridges are usually a fixed appliance that is bonded securely in place using the adjacent teeth as anchors. The dental bridge will fill in the space of the missing tooth or teeth and create the appearance of a full set of teeth. Dental bridges can be used when the adjacent teeth and gums are healthy. Patients can chew food normally with a dental bridge in place.

The process of a dental bridge will take approximately two appointments to complete. Once it is determined that a bridge appliance is the right treatment option for you, an appointment will be made to prepare the adjacent teeth to support the bridge. The teeth adjacent to the missing tooth or teeth are prepared for crowns. A small portion of the enamel is removed to make a smooth and even surface for the new crown restorations. An impression will be made of the upper and lower teeth so that we can create the ideal dental bridge for each patient’s unique dental situation. After the adjacent teeth are prepared, we will place a temporary bridge on your teeth that will help protect your teeth while the cosmetic restoration is being manufactured.

The next appointment will involve bonding the permanent, newly fabricated bridge into place. It is common for it to require a couple of appointments to adjust the dental bridge until the fit is perfect. We will work with you to ensure that your bridge restoration fits comfortably and functions properly.

At Martin Dentistry we use all-ceramic materials for bridgework to ensure the absolute best aesthetics and function. Our goal is to create a natural-looking smile with a realistic tooth-like bridge, which matches the original teeth in shape and shade. If you are interested in learning more about bridge restorations, call or schedule an appointment today at (757) 886-0300.