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Fixed Bridges
A Stable Solution that Renews Your Smile
If you’ve lost teeth due to accidents, injury, or gum disease, we can create a permanent 'bridge' appliance to replace the missing teeth. Not only does a bridge fill the missing space, thereby preventing repositioning of remaining teeth, but it also corrects an altered bite, improves chewing ability and speech articulation, and supports facial structures to preserve your appearance. A ‘fixed’ bridge is permanently joined onto the neighboring 'abutment' teeth on either side of the toothless area, and consists of three basic units: the false tooth or teeth (called a pontic) and two abutment teeth crowns. The most appropriate style will depend on the strength and health of those neighboring teeth, as well as the location of the toothless span in relation to the rest of your dentition. If healthy adjacent 'anchor' teeth aren't available, a surgically implanted metal post or dental 'implant' may be an alternate choice. And finally, for a large span of missing teeth, a removable partial denture or implant-supported prosthesis may be our recommendation.
Bridge placement and fitting is fairly straightforward. Drs. McLaurin will simply reduce the adjacent abutment teeth as needed to anchor the bridge, take a careful impression of your mouth, and have the lab custom-fabricate your bridge. Upon delivery of the restoration, he'll fit it into place and check for function, looks, and comfort. Including the time required for the lab to fabricate the bridge, the entire process requires only a couple of appointments over a two to four week period. Once it's in place, you'll need to practice excellent oral hygiene around your bridge area: twice daily brushing, daily flossing, and regular professional cleanings at our office. In addition, we may recommend floss threaders to help remove bacteria from hard to reach spaces between the bridge and your adjacent teeth and gums, thus preventing food debris and plaque build-up that can quietly and imperceptibly lead to gum disease. With proper care, you can expect your fixed bridge to last at least 8-10 years.
