Dental Bridges

Dental Bridges

Like crowns, dental bridges are fixed restorations that are cemented onto existing teeth or dental implants to replace missing teeth. At Vinciguerra & Mathew Dentistry, we often recommend bridges for patients who have lost one or more teeth, restoring both function and appearance. A traditional bridge consists of two crowns placed on the healthy teeth next to the gap, with a false tooth secured between them. This design helps restore a proper bite, improve chewing ability, and create a natural-looking smile. In some cases, bridges can also be customized to replace two missing teeth in the same area.

Custom dental bridge for missing teeth

Frequently Asked Questions About Dental Bridges

In addition to replacing missing teeth, bridges can be used to improve your appearance, tooth shape, alignment, and overall bite, also known as dental occlusion. The gaps left in your mouth by missing teeth can cause your remaining teeth to shift, which can ruin your bite mechanics and cause other dental problems. Bridges and crowns can help prevent shifting teeth and poor bite mechanics. The false teeth or pontics used in dental bridges can be made from metal alloys, gold, porcelain or a combination of these materials. Bridges can be supported either by natural teeth or by dental implants. Bridges can:

  • Restore your smile
  • Restore the ability to properly chew and speak
  • Maintain the shape of your face
  • Distribute the forces in your bite properly by replacing missing teeth
  • Prevent remaining teeth from drifting out of position

A dental bridge does more than replace missing teeth. It helps protect your overall oral health. When a tooth is lost, the gap can cause nearby teeth to shift out of place, which may change your bite and lead to other problems. A bridge helps keep everything aligned while also restoring your smile.

The replacement teeth, called pontics, are custom-made to look natural and can be crafted from porcelain, gold, metal alloys, or a mix of these materials. Bridges can be supported either by your natural teeth or by dental implants, depending on what works best for you.

Here’s how a bridge can help:

  1. Restore the look of your smile

  2. Make it easier to chew and speak normally

  3. Keep your face looking natural and full

  4. Balance the forces of your bite

  5. Prevent surrounding teeth from shifting out of place

The process involves preparing your adjacent teeth to receive the bridge. These adjacent teeth are called abutment teeth. Tooth preparation involves reshaping these teeth by removing a bit of enamel to make room for a crown to be placed without affecting your bite. Your dentist then takes impressions of your teeth. These impressions lead to the creation of a 3D model from which the bridge, including pontic and crowns, can be fabricated in a dental lab or in our office. Your dentist will make a temporary bridge to protect your exposed teeth while the permanent bridge is being made.

You will need a second visit so your temporary bridge can be removed and your new bridge can be checked and adjusted to achieve a proper fit and bite. Additional visits may be necessary to adjust the fit of your new bridge. This varies according to each patient’s needs. If your bridge is a fixed traditional bridge, your dentist may cement it in place temporarily for a couple of weeks to ensure proper fit. Once we achieve proper fit, we cement the new bridge permanently in place.

Dental bridges can last from five years up to 20 years with proper care and oral hygiene.

We welcome patients from New Hyde Park, Lake Success, Great Neck, Garden City, Little Neck, and Mineola.

Call (516) 362-2257 or use our appointment request form to arrange a visit. Our New Hyde Park dental team can discuss your concerns, examine the area with missing teeth, and explain the options recommended for you.

Vinciguerra & Mathew Dentistry is located at 2001 Marcus Avenue, Suite South 60, New Hyde Park, NY 11042. Please contact our team if you need help planning your visit.

Depending on your oral health and goals, alternatives may include dental implants or other personalized restorative treatments.