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- Types of Dental Bridges?
- Types of Dental Bridges?
- What are the Benefits of Dental Bridges?
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- Am I Candidate for Bridges?
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- What Can I Expect?
- What is the Follow Up?
- Can I Use my Insurance?
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What Are Dental Bridges?
If one or several of your teeth have fallen out, it is not just a cosmetic problem — gaps in your teeth may cause your remaining teeth to move out of position. This may lead to unnecessary tension in your bite, pain when you chew, or even difficulty speaking. Dr. Weller’s first recommendation may be to replace the tooth with a dental implant. If a dental implant cannot be utilized due to spacing concerns, bone deterioration or excessive health concerns, a bridge is the next best way to replace a missing tooth. A bridge serves to replace a missing tooth or teeth. There are 2 types of bridges commonly used, a traditional (full coverage) bridge or a Maryland bridge.
A bridge improves the health and appearance of your smile by filling in gaps using a false tooth that is supported by either a crown, dental implants, or both. At Weller Dental in Chicago and Hinsdale, IL, dentist Dr. Jeffrey Weller offers custom-made bridges to help give you back your smile. If you have one or more teeth missing from your smile, schedule a consultative appointment with Dr. Weller to get more information about your treatment options with a dental bridge.
Types of Dental Bridges?
A full cover, or traditional bridge is the most common type and can be made of all porcelain or a combination of porcelain and metal. This type of bridge will require placing crowns on the adjacent teeth to anchor the prosthetic (false) tooth or teeth in place.
A Maryland Bridge is generally only used in the front of the mouth where the biting force is less. A Maryland Bridge consists of a prosthetic tooth fused to wings, usually made of zirconium or metal, which are bonded to the adjoining teeth.
Both types of bridge are fabricated at a professional dental laboratory and normally require two visits. During your first visit, the teeth are prepared, impressions are made of the teeth and a temporary bridge is placed. At the second visit, the temporary bridge is removed and the permanent bridge is fitted, adjusted and cemented into place.
If you are missing several teeth in an area of the mouth, and no longer have any healthy teeth to support a bridge, an implant bridge may be an option. An implant bridge is similar to a traditional bridge but uses dental implants to anchor the bridge instead of natural teeth.
What are the Benefits of Dental Bridges?
Dental bridges offer a range of advantages for patients dealing with multiple missing teeth who may not be a candidate for dental implants and other treatment options. Beyond restoring the aesthetics of a complete smile, dental bridges contribute to oral health and functionality. Some of the most exciting benefits of dental bridges include:
- Improved chewing
- Enhanced appearance
- Prevents shifting
- Restored speech
- Maintains face shape
- Durable and long lasting
- Simple saintenance
- Cost-effective compared with some other treatment options
- Can be placed in as few as two appointments
- Boosted self-confidence
Dental Bridges Reviews
Dr. Weller and his whole team at Weller Dental is amazing - we can't recommend them enough! To start, they don't recommend or push unnecessary procedures just to gain a quick buck which so many other dentists will do. They really care about their patients! If you don't love Weller Dental for their amazing front desk team (Whitney is the best!), you will fall in love with Weller's right hand lady (&wife), Tina Weller! Who doesn't love a family business! She is on top of the operations and will make sure everything runs smoothly. I had to replace a bridge on my front teeth right before my wedding and they made it happen in a tight timeline, coordinated with other doctors, and it looked way better than what I had before. Dr. Weller is very talented and I would not have trusted many to do the work he did. My sister now wants to fly in from California to get the same work done since hers also needs to be replaced. Additionally, my husband got into a bike accident right before our wedding an
Dr. Weller and his whole team at Weller Dental is amazing - we can't recommend them enough! To start, they don't recommend or push unnecessary procedures just to gain a quick buck which so many other dentists will do. They really care about their patients! If you don't love Weller Dental for their amazing front desk team (Whitney is the best!), you will fall in love with Weller's right hand lady (&wife), Tina Weller! Who doesn't love a family business! She is on top of the operations and will make sure everything runs smoothly. I had to replace a bridge on my front teeth right before my wedding and they made it happen in a tight timeline, coordinated with other doctors, and it looked way better than what I had before. Dr. Weller is very talented and I would not have trusted many to do the work he did. My sister now wants to fly in from California to get the same work done since hers also needs to be replaced. Additionally, my husband got into a bike accident right before our wedding and needed his front tooth replaced! Weller was able to see him with no notice and you couldn't even tell it was half fake! Can't recommend enough!
Dr. Weller and his whole team at Weller Dental is amazing - we can't recommend them enough! To start, they don't recommend or push unnecessary procedures just to gain a quick buck which so many other dentists will do. They really care about their patients! If you don't love Weller Dental for their amazing front desk team (Whitney is the best!), you will fall in love with Weller's right hand lady (&wife), Tina Weller! Who doesn't love a family business! She is on top of the operations and will make sure everything runs smoothly. I had to replace a bridge on my front teeth right before my wedding and they made it happen in a tight timeline, coordinated with other doctors, and it looked way better than what I had before. Dr. Weller is very talented and I would not have trusted many to do the work he did. My sister now wants to fly in from California to get the same work done since hers also needs to be replaced. Additionally, my husband got into a bike accident right before our wedding and needed his front tooth replaced! Weller was able to see him with no notice and you couldn't even tell it was half fake! Can't recommend enough!
3
Total Reviews
4.9
Average Rating
Plan Your Procedure
Treatments start at
from $3,300.00
Recovery Time
2 Days
How Long It Takes
1 - 2 Hours
Follow Up Time
3 Weeks
Am I Candidate for Bridges?
Missing teeth are not just an aesthetic problem — spaces in your smile may heavily impact the health of your mouth. Your mouth is balanced carefully and missing teeth may affect how well you can use it. With time, gaps may lead to the shifting of teeth, causing problems with your bite (overbite, underbite, crossbite) and gum or jawbone atrophy. To place a bridge, the surrounding teeth must be healthy enough to hold the restoration, with good density in the jawbone, and gum tissue. Dr. Weller will examine your gums and jaw at your consultation to help you choose the best type of bridge (cantilever, traditional, resin bonded, or Maryland bonded) and material (ceramic, porcelain, porcelain fused to metal, and metal).
Our Featured Work
What Can I Expect?
Once your supporting teeth are filed down to prepare them, Dr. Weller will take digital images and dental impressions so that your bridge can be created. A temporary bridge may be used while your custom one is crafted. As soon as your dental bridge is ready, sedation may be used to diminish any discomfort, in addition, sedation methods can be discussed if you are experiencing fears, anxieties, or trouble with a gag reflex to help keep you calm during the placement. Your custom bridge can be glued into its position or connected to implants, based on the method you and Dr. Weller decided on at your consult. Dr. Weller will adjust the position of your bridge so it is comfortable and stable.
What is the Follow Up?
After your bridge is in place, you should have a noticeable improvement in your teeth's function and appearance. Dr. Weller or an assistant on his team will teach you how to care for your dental bridge, including the ways to keep it clean and what foods to avoid. It's important to frequently clean your bridge and mouth because decay can develop under the bridge. If you properly care for it, your dental bridge may stay in place for several years. You will need to schedule appointments at Weller Dental to get an annual dental examination and cleanings each year. In your examination, Dr. Weller will assess the health and fit of your dental bridge to make sure everything functions and still looks great.
Can I Use my Insurance?
Bridges and other dental restorations are generally covered, in part, by dental insurance companies. Our office will talk to your dental insurance company to figure out your out-of-pocket expenses. Weller Dental offers several methods of payment, including financing options, that may be reviewed in your consult with Dr. Weller. He will help you choose the best bridge material and type to suit your budget and needs.
Ready for a consultation?
Even if you don't mind the way your smile looks with a gap from a missing tooth, it may turn into more expensive troubles if you don't get it fixed. Make an appointment with dentist Dr. Weller to get more information about bridge restorations and the options that match your unique needs. Weller Dental is pleased to offer custom dental bridges that can improve the health and appearance of your mouth. Contact our team in Chicago or Hinsdale, IL to make your consultation.