Dental Bridge: A Workable Solution to Replace One Missing Tooth

Tooth loss isn’t something you anticipate. Most people plan on keeping their pearly whites well into their senior years. Alas, accidents happen, and the time may come when you have a lost tooth or two. If you find yourself in this scenario, Dr. John E. Russo, your Orlando, Florida dentist, recommends a dental bridge to restore your smile. Getting a bridge for one missing tooth is pretty straightforward and cost-effective. Here’s what you should know about this procedure.

A Workable Solution for Replacing One Tooth 

Not many people will notice if you lose a back tooth, as your back teeth are pretty well hidden when you smile. Losing a prominent visible tooth, however, is another story. It’s not something you can readily ignore. A dental bridge will restore your smile’s esthetic appeal and functionality. 

A dental bridge is a set of artificial teeth that replaces missing natural teeth. A bridge can replace one tooth or up to four missing teeth in a row. Even one lost tooth can make a difference in your smile’s alignment. When a tooth is lost, teeth nearby may move to occupy the space left by the missing tooth. A one-tooth bridge will keep your teeth and bite in alignment to preserve the integrity of your smile. 

Here are your options for a one-tooth bridge:

Traditional Bridge

A traditional bridge is supported by dental crowns that cover healthy teeth on each side of the gap. We’ll need to reshape or modify these abutment teeth to anchor your bridge. Then, a custom bridge will be created to ensure a comfortable, natural fit. When placing your bridge, we’ll make any adjustments to accommodate your bite before cementing it in place permanently. 

Cantilever Bridge

If only one healthy tooth is adjacent to the gap left by your lost tooth, Dr. Russo can create a one-tooth cantilever bridge to complete your smile. A cantilever bridge is anchored by a single dental crown rather than two.

Maryland Bridge 

A Maryland bridge can replace a missing front tooth without strong anchoring like dental crowns, as front teeth are not heavily involved in grinding and chewing. Your bridge will come with metal or composite resin “wings” attached to each side of your artificial tooth. These wings will be cemented to the backside of adjacent natural teeth to keep your bridge securely in place. By matching the features of your artificial tooth to those of nearby real teeth, your smile will have a natural, seamless appearance. 

These are just a few ways that a dental bridge can restore your grin to its original health.

Fixed Dental Bridge Near Me

To learn more about our bridge treatments and how they can benefit you, contact Dr. John Russo at our Orlando, FL dental office at (407) 470-1224.

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